Work to improve a popular pathway linking Ovingdean and Woodingdean will begin later this month.
The project on Old Parish Lane is part of a wider scheme to improve access around the Happy Valley area.
The bridleway will be closed from Wednesday, 25 October, reopening after three or four months, depending on weather conditions.
The 1.5 kilometre stretch of path to the south of Warren Road will be made smoother and wider for better accessibility and cycling, and a new “soft border” alongside it for horse riders.
Councillor Trevor Muten, chair of the Transport and Sustainability committee said: “It’s great to see work about to get underway on the Old Parish Lane improvements.
“This is a very popular route. Making the path smoother and wider will make it much easier and more enjoyable for people to walk and cycle along the route, as well as for people with buggies, wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
“The Happy Valley area is one of the strategic routes included in our Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan so it’s very pleasing to see the start of work which will lead to much better access in that part of the city”
Brighton and Hove City Council says the improvements will be similar to the work carried out on the New Falmer Road path in 2021 and to the path which runs alongside Ditchling Road in 2022.
The improvements are funded by the council’s Carbon Neutral Fund and from the Local Transport Plan.
The council says it hopes to continue a wider project to improve paths in Happy Valley once funding becomes available.
Woodingdean Councillor Jacob Allen said: “This will be a great improvement, enhancing our bridleway connection from Woodingdean to Ovingdean.
“I’ve asked that the Transport Projects team keep the residents of Old parish lane updated as the works progress.
“I am looking forward to a less bumpy cycle to Rottingdean beach next summer.”
I hope the improvements are up to the accessible standards of the Woodingdean to Falmer, it is a great facility for a powered wheelchair.
Brilliant! Next, a safe walker’s pathway from Woodingdean to the top of Elm Grove, please.
Walking along the uneven tarmacked surface there presently is a bit tricky…made worse by those who cycle very quickly along it. The pavement needs to be widened for shared use if cyclists are worried about cycling on a stretch of road with a 40mph speed limit. I’ve had to step into that road to avoid a cyclist hurtling towards me while walking on the pavement there.
I have to agree with DS this particular footpath seems to attract more than its share of dangerous, selfish cyclists. It is a rare occasion indeed that my wife and I fail to end up dodging these inconsiderate people when walking along this stretch of pavement even when there are hardly any cars actually on Warren Road. At times we have been verbally abused for getting in the cyclists way, threatened with violence and on one occasion told loudly that “this is Brighton – you can cycle anywhere you want in Brighton.” This is presumably the attitude that the late unlamented greens wanted to install into this pampered minority.
Have just been up to see the progress made on the Woodingdean to Ovingdean track.Brilliant work from the guys working up there in such appalling weather and a big thanks to all those behind the scenes who encouraged and sourced the funding for it to take place .Can we please have a few more positive words of encouragement from people as to what is being achieved Yes there are many more projects in the city which will enhance the hiking ,cycling ,and mobility scooter experience and access.But this is the one being carried out at present and all involved should be applauded for the thought and hard work that is being put into THIS PROJECT. As far as sharing these paths with cyclists perhaps it’s about time the government were lobbied to make it a LEGAL REQUIREMENT for all bikes to have a bell or warning sound of some kind as is required in the Netherlands.Harmony is the key
Brilliant new pathway, though we quite liked the country-feel of the previous lane.