Decision details

To approve the East Sussex County Council response and report on the Eastbourne Town Centre Movement and Access Package Phase 2b public consultation, moving to complete the detailed design and construction of the Victoria Place section of the Terminus Road scheme.

33.1     The Lead member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

DECISIONS

33.2     The Lead Member RESOLVED to:

(1) approve the East Sussex County Council response and report on the Eastbourne Town Centre Movement and Access Package Phase 2b public consultation;

(2) Approve the Victoria Place (Trinity Trees/Seaside to Grand Parade) pedestrianisation of Terminus Road progressing to detailed design and construction; and

(3) Approve the Memorial Roundabout and Ring Road relocation elements of the package progressing to detailed design and that funding opportunities are explored to enable the construction of both of these schemes.

REASONS

33.3     Phase 2b of the Eastbourne Town Centre Movement and Access Package focusses on upgrading the existing Terminus Road pedestrianised area from Langney Road through to its junction with Seaside Road/Trinity Trees. In addition, it addresses pedestrianising the ‘Victoria Place’ section of Terminus Road from Seaside Road/Trinity Trees to Grand Parade funded through Eastbourne Borough Council’s ‘Levelling Up Fund’ allocation, alongside future pedestrian crossing improvements at Memorial Roundabout and the proposed relocation of the northern and western sections of the town centre ring road.

33.4     Following a series of co-development and design workshops and site visits held with a mixture of local interest groups and elected officials, public consultation was undertaken on the Eastbourne Town Centre Phase 2b proposals in October and November 2022. There was a mixed response on the proposals with good levels of support for the Memorial roundabout and ring road relocation schemes. However, there was less support for the Terminus Road proposals with the majority of comments expressing concerns regarding the lack of cycling provision through the existing and proposed pedestrianised area.

33.5     Whilst the Terminus Road proposals did not receive as much support as the other Phase 2b proposals, they build upon the previous and planned investment made in Phase 1 and Phase 2a improvements to Terminus Road and will enable the completion of the pedestrianised route between the rail station and the seafront meeting a key objective of the overall movement and access package for Eastbourne town centre.

33.6     The concerns raised during the consultation will, where practicable, be considered and addressed at the detailed design stage. The scheme will be funded using the £4.74m Levelling Up funding secured by Eastbourne Borough Council with construction currently programmed to be completed by the end of March 2025. Due to ongoing cost inflation pressures being experienced in the construction sectors and across supply chains as a result of cost inflation rises, arising from external factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine and cost of living crisis, programme delivery will be continued to be monitored closely.