PARKING spaces along the seafront will make way for bike lanes as part of a new wave of car bans and cycleways.

Brighton and Hove City Council has revealed three new traffic orders affecting the seafront A259, Preston Road and New Road – the first two came into force on Friday so will go ahead imminently.

Parking spaces will make way for a cycle lane on the south side of the A259, stretching from the Fourth Avenue junction in Hove to the Brighton Palace Pier.

This will remove parking along Hove Lawns and near the i360, though some bays will be relocated between the road and the new cycle lane.

Meanwhile a two-way cycle lane will be created on Preston Road and cars will be banned from entering or exiting the junction with Argyle Road.

In the city centre, New Road will be closed to traffic every day from 5pm to 11pm.

All three orders were published by the city council before the former Labour administration handed power to the Greens last Wednesday.

The Argus: The orders were published under the former Labour administrationThe orders were published under the former Labour administration

The A259 and Preston Road orders were published on July 15 and came into force on Friday.

The New Road order was published last Wednesday and will come into force next Monday.

The orders will remain in force for up to 18 months. But the city council says they could be made permanent.

In statements accompanying the orders, the city council said the measures will tackle traffic by freeing up space for the increasing number of people cycling due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“The coronavirus public health crisis has resulted in cleaner air and quieter streets and an increase in residents cycling and walking,” it said.

“As the city begins to see more people go back to work, there is need for residents to carry on cycling and active travel.

“With public transport capacity reduced, the city could experience significant congestion unless an increase in alternative sustainable options including cycling is facilitated.”

The Argus: New bike lanes will be created on the A259 and in Preston RoadNew bike lanes will be created on the A259 and in Preston Road

The biggest changes affect the A259.

A 1.6-mile-long cycle lane will stretch from the Fourth Avenue junction to the Palace Pier.

It will run along the south side of Kingsway, King’s Road and Grand Junction Road.

Parking bays will be removed to make way for the cycle lane.

Some bays will be relocated between the road and the new cycle lane.

Disabled bays and loading bays will be also relocated.

Meanwhile loading and unloading will be banned completely from the south side of the road.

The order came into effect on Friday at the same time as an order affecting Preston Road.

A cycle lane will be created along the busy road’s west side between the junctions with Argyle Road and Dyke Road Drive.

Loading and unloading will be banned along the length of the bike lane.

The Argus: A new cycle lane will be created along Preston Road. Photo: David ChappellA new cycle lane will be created along Preston Road. Photo: David Chappell

And vehicles will be banned from entering or exiting Argyle Road via Preston Road.

A short bike lane will also be created along Argyle Road from Campbell Road to Preston Road to link up with the main cycleway.

Meanwhile in the city centre, driving will be banned in New Road each day from 5pm to 11pm from next Monday.

Disabled parking hours will also be changed so the road is free of parked cars from 5pm to 11pm each day.

The city council said this measure will give more space for pedestrians to practise social distancing.

“The prohibition of driving in New Road will give more space to pedestrians, making it safer for them and improving air quality,” an accompanying statement read.

“It will allow cafes and restaurants to have more space to welcome customers.”

All three orders could last for up to 18 months.

The Argus: New Road will be closed to traffic in the evening. Photo: Txllxt TxllxTNew Road will be closed to traffic in the evening. Photo: Txllxt TxllxT

But the city council said they could be made permanent and is urging residents to comment on the council website.

“These changes will be monitored and members of the public are encouraged to comment so that a decision can be made as to whether these changes should be made permanent,” a council statement read.

The city council declined to comment further when contacted by The Argus.

The news comes weeks after the council implemented similar temporary orders in The Lanes and North Laine.

Vehicles were banned from much of the The Lanes on July 9 to free up space for pedestrians and cyclists.