COUNCILLORS have approved plans to convert one lane of the A259 into a cycle lane.

The proposals, backed by Brighton and Hove City Councillors at a meeting yesterday, would see the A259 Hove seafront cycle lane extended further west - stretching from Fourth Avenue to Hove Lagoon.

The £475,000 project will see one lane of Kings Esplanade replaced with a cycle lane, separated from other vehicles, as well as extra pavement space along the parade of shops.

There will also be around 70 cycle parking spaces created, along with 26 parking spaces for blue badge holders, and new style bus stops along the route, with an existing bus stop opposite the bottom of Westbourne Villas removed.

The decision comes around a year after a controversial cycle lane on Old Shoreham Road was removed following a vote by councillors.

Green councillor for Withdean Jamie Lloyd, deputy chair of the environment, transport and sustainability committee, said that he was pleased that the consultation showed a positive response to the cycle lane plans and said: “I am really happy we’re getting road space for cyclists and mobility users and can link out to Shoreham and beyond.”

However, Conservative councillor Samer Bagaeen criticised the consultation process, which had only 48 respondents - with 34 backing the plans.

Cllr Bagaeen questioned whether those who might be indirectly affected by the cycle lane were properly approached by the consultation, and pointed out that he had received ten emails regarding the matter in the last few days.

“The consultation is either flawed or not interested,” he said.

Both he and fellow Conservative councillor Robert Nemeth voted against supporting the construction phase of the cycle lane.

Labour councillor and former council leader Nancy Platts backed the plans and said: “We have to do something about shared space without a battle on the streets.”

The cycle lane extension will be built on a cycle lane which was created along the south side of King’s Road in Brighton and Kingsway in Hove in August 2020.

Construction work will be funded through the council’s local transport plan fund and from a government grant for active travel.