BRIGHTON and Hove Albion have hit back at claims that proposed new cycle routes around the new Ikea development at their training ground are below standard.

The club, which is behind the plans for the furniture store and 600 homes in Lancing, has denied claims by Friends of the Earth that the proposed new bridleway adjacent to the River Adur, designed to replace the signal-controlled crossing at the Sussex Pad junction, are not good enough.

Under the plans cyclists will have to cross the A27 at a new roundabout west of the Sussex Pad, or cycle along the River Adur and under the A27 on the eastern side of the Sussex Pad.

Friends of the Earth provided information to the MPs Peter Kyle, Caroline Lucas and Lloyd Russell-Moyle claiming that the proposed bridleway for use by a variety of non-motorised users is “less than two metres wide in many places.” But the club says this information is incorrect and contrary to the information submitted as part of the New Monks Farm planning application.

The club insists their proposed upgraded route provides a consistent surfaced width of 2.5m along its length with a 0.5m verge, a total usable width of 3.0m.

Campaigners are unhappy that some sections of the route are next to a wall and believe the path should be wider there.

But a club spokesman said the proposals meet the required width along the whole route.

He said extensive survey work has been undertaken, with key stakeholder involvement, “which has confirmed that this is deliverable and in fact, from a point 150m north of Old Shoreham Toll Bridge, the total usable width including the verges, increases to between 3.2m to 3.9m for the rest of the River Adur route”.

The spokesman for the New Monks Farm Development said: “The proposal provides a more attractive, safe, traffic-free environment for pedestrians, cyclists, and equestrians to access the South Downs National Park. Currently these users have to cross the A27 at the Sussex Pad traffic signals.”

“Non-Motorised Users using the signalised junction at the Sussex Pad have to interact with high speed and high flow traffic movements, and suffer considerable delays due to the priorities given to the very high A27 traffic flows.”

“The facilities for Non-Motorised Users north of the junction are virtually non-existent with either a less than one metre footway to access The Drive or users having to use the verge, with no dedicated facilities, to access Coombes Road.”

“Friends of the Earth has chosen to ignore these benefits and the deficiencies associated with the Sussex Pad junction and by campaigning for the signalised crossing to remain open are putting lives at risk.”

“The proposals have been comprehensively reviewed by both West Sussex County Council and Highways England as highway authorities, who have concluded that, not only are the proposals acceptable in design terms but will provide overall benefits, by totally removing conflicts with high speeds and high flow traffic conditions on the A27, benefiting comfort, safety and the perception of safety, so making the route into the SDNP much more attractive.”

l The planning application is due to return to the Planning Committee on Wednesday, October 3.