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"Appalling": Councillor who made decision to remove popular pop-up cycle lane had never officially seen it for himself

Campaigners behind Freedom of Information request shocked that Cllr Roger Elkins hadn't actually taken time to see the lane himself...

A councillor singlehandedly responsible for a decision to remove a popular pop-up cycle lane in West Sussex had never officially visited the temporary route to see it for himself, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed.

The pop-up cycle lane on Upper Shoreham Road, in Shoreham-by-Sea, which was installed in September, saw cycling levels triple; but West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for highways Cllr Roger Elkins twice voted to remove the route in November, before the trial period was complete or the route was finished, overriding a council scrutiny committee calling for it to remain in place.

The lane, which was funded with government money as part of an emergency COVID-19 transport response, was featured in a government promotional video and was supported by leaders of local schools and hospitals. Although the lane was scheduled for removal in December, due to ‘operational reasons’ it still remains in place.

Adam Bronkhorst, of Shoreham-by-cycle, the campaign group who lodged the FOI request, said: "For the people in Shoreham-by-Sea who have really made the most of safer cycling on Upper Shoreham Road - particularly children, parents and people new to cycling - the fact that Cllr Elkins made the decision (twice) to remove the pop-up cycle lanes without even coming to see the project is particularly appalling."

The FOI request, dated 11 December, asked for dates of visit to the scheme, and the council responded on 5 January 2021 to say: "I can confirm that Cllr Roger Elkins has not officially visited the popup cycle lane on the Upper Shoreham Road."

Prior to the cycle lane’s installation there were 768 cycle trips in a week on Upper Shoreham Road. That number peaked on the week of 23 November, the week of the final decision to remove the cycle lane – a boost in numbers thanks in part to a protest ride supporting the route. Over the New Year week, when schools were closed, counters still logged double the cycling numbers than prior to construction.

In November Cllr Roger Elkins argued the lane was an emergency response to a unique set of circumstances, and that the transport network had changed with public transport options restored. His initial decision to remove the lane was called in to the Council’s scrutiny committee at the end of November. Although the subsequent scrutiny committee voted 6:2 in favour of asking him to reconsider his decision, it was later confirmed the lane would be removed.

In addition, WSCC told road.cc "Cllr Elkins was able to make his decision on the basis of comprehensive reports, prepared by experienced council officers, and feedback from the council’s online survey". However interpretation of the survey was criticised by those familiar with the scheme for lodging any desire to change the temporary layout, including to improve it, as an objection to the overall scheme.

The Shoreham-By-Cycle group said virtually every school in Shoreham had co-signed a letter to Cllr Elkins prior to his final decision, extolling the benefits of the project and pleading for its retention, while WSCC's own report said the scheme was a huge success, with thousands of additional cycle journeys.

Cycling UK has launched a judicial review on decisions to remove both the Upper Shoreham and Kensington High Street pop-up lanes, both scheduled for removal despite their popularity, amid public outcry.

Cycling UK’s head of campaigns, Duncan Dollimore, said the charity was alarmed some councils’ decisions to rip out cycle lanes seemed like “knee jerk responses to objections from a vocal minority rather than upon consideration of the evidence and benefits of the schemes.”

Dollimore said while cycle lanes are efficient at moving people, and good for local businesses and reducing congestion, “changing engrained travel habits doesn’t always happen overnight, so when councils introduce temporary cycle lanes they need to leave them in place for long enough to carry out an effective trial. ‘Who shouts loudest’ should not be the basis of their evaluation.”

> Cycling UK prepares for legal challenge against “knee jerk” removal of cycle lanes

Bronkhorst expressed dismay at the latest revelation. “I’m really surprised that someone who made such an important and divisive decision hadn’t even taken the time to drive the short distance to look for himself at the lanes”, he said. 

He added that although the cycle route received a stay of execution, he isn’t sure how long it will last.

A spokesperson for West Sussex County Council said: “We recognise the support and enthusiasm shown by some people for the Shoreham scheme, which is why we are looking to see if a redesigned, permanent proposal can be progressed, subject to Department for Transport funding. Any proposal would require consultation with all stakeholders, including residents, the cycle forum, schools, emergency services and businesses. We remain committed to our long-term aims of promoting sustainable transport, as outlined in our Walking and Cycling Strategy 2016-2026.”

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21 comments

Avatar
Gus T | 3 years ago
2 likes

Saw this a couple of days ago but haven't had chance to comment until now but syrely this is a case for the Local Authority Ombudsman, the Councillor concerned has failed to make even the most basic checks before getting rid of the cycle lane on the basis of his own prejudices. 

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eburtthebike replied to Gus T | 3 years ago
1 like

Gus T wrote:

Saw this a couple of days ago but haven't had chance to comment until now but syrely this is a case for the Local Authority Ombudsman, the Councillor concerned has failed to make even the most basic checks before getting rid of the cycle lane on the basis of his own prejudices. 

Worth a shot, but the ombudsman is now a toothless kitten, with almost no powers.

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David9694 replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
1 like

It's a crap decision,bt  "he didn't go and see it" is just a headline", it doesn't constitute maladministration. Better concentrate on the politics and the issues. 

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eburtthebike replied to David9694 | 3 years ago
0 likes

David9694 wrote:

It's a crap decision,bt  "he didn't go and see it" is just a headline", it doesn't constitute maladministration. Better concentrate on the politics and the issues. 

I'd suggest going for a perverse decision, given the overwhelming support from so many parts of society and from other parts of the council itself.

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Awavey replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
0 likes

overwhelming support except from the highways,transport and planning dept it seems, all Cllr Ekins did was approve the recommendations the report that dept produced for the council cabinet.

so maybe the Shoreham-by-cycles FOI should have been directed at the highways dept to ascertain why they recommended the removal in their report. or more to the point why they seemed to have treated these schemes purely as temporary assists, rather than temporary trials towards more permanent schemes.

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Fishpastesarnie | 3 years ago
0 likes

It didn't help that the local newspapers (in conjunction with specially set up Facebook groups) were actively agitating the populace against these cycle lanes.

The Worthing and Chichester pop up cycle lanes had people campaigning to shut them down before they had even opened them up. 

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Titanus | 3 years ago
0 likes

I have nothing to say on the article itself but the name "Duncan Dollimore". Wow! Now that's a name.

Wancun Wollimore is gonna be my next username. So if you come across this name somewhere else on the internet, you can be reasonably sure it is me.

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0-0 | 3 years ago
14 likes

99% of all councillors would serve their local areas more effectively, if they were ground up and used to fill pot holes.

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jaymack replied to 0-0 | 3 years ago
9 likes

If 100% of those posting snide comments gave up several evenings a week, undertook days of voluntary work per month or stood for election to represent their fellow citizens they may be better informed and local government better reflect the public's concerns.

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eburtthebike replied to jaymack | 3 years ago
10 likes

jaymack wrote:

If 100% of those posting snide comments gave up several evenings a week, undertook days of voluntary work per month or stood for election to represent their fellow citizens they may be better informed and local government better reflect the public's concerns.

As someone who devoted a large chunk of their life to trying to represent cyclists and who stood for election several times, I thought I was pretty well informed; certainly better than the councillors who refused point blank to implement their own policies.  Until cyclists agitate enough for councillors and others to pay attention to them, or the councillors start cycling themselves, it might be best not to condemn those you know nothing about.

Avatar
GMBasix replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
1 like

eburtthebike wrote:

jaymack wrote:

If 100% of those posting snide comments gave up several evenings a week, undertook days of voluntary work per month or stood for election to represent their fellow citizens they may be better informed and local government better reflect the public's concerns.

As someone who devoted a large chunk of their life to trying to represent cyclists and who stood for election several times, I thought I was pretty well informed; certainly better than the councillors who refused point blank to implement their own policies.  Until cyclists agitate enough for councillors and others to pay attention to them, or the councillors start cycling themselves, it might be best not to condemn those you know nothing about.

And it shows, in that your earlier comment was a constructive rebuttal of the councillor's sophistry, followed by a satirical comment.  It wasn't primarily a snide remark.  And I don't think jaymack's remark could fairly be aimed at you.

I agree with jaymack's broad point:  snide comments often reveal more of the armchair expert's ignorance rather than their target's ineffectiveness.  We may not agree with councillors' actions or opinions, but we should play the ball, not the player.

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jaymack replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
0 likes

A double check of my post before your fingers tapped upon the keys would have revealed that it was a reply to that made by 0-0

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alansmurphy replied to jaymack | 3 years ago
1 like

jaymack wrote:

If 100% of those posting snide comments gave up several evenings a week, undertook days of voluntary work per month or stood for election to represent their fellow citizens they may be better informed and local government better reflect the public's concerns.

 

That in turn is one of the problems - most of those with the time to give up will be of an age, driving a Jag and waiting for their next opportunity to be racist, homophobic, argumentative etc.

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jollygoodvelo | 3 years ago
3 likes

On the bright side, he never has to pay for a taxi again, right?

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mdavidford | 3 years ago
12 likes

Quote:

Bronkhorst expressed dismay at the latest revelation. “I’m really surprised that someone who made such an important and divisive decision hadn’t even taken the time to drive the short distance to look for himself at the lanes”, he said.

Or maybe, given it was only a short distance, he could've cycled there?

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Yorky-M | 3 years ago
9 likes

All cyclist togethers are a powerful voting force. Local councellors should have a pro cyclist agenda before they get our tick

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eburtthebike | 3 years ago
15 likes

"...Cllr Roger Elkins argued the lane was an emergency response to a unique set of circumstances, and that the transport network had changed with public transport options restored."

But they haven't been restored; public transport is still not useable by most people because of government advice about covid.  I can only imagine that Cllr Elkins has a garage full of shiny cars that he lovingly strokes every day, and hasn't caught a bus or ridden a bike since he was five; the ideal person to have as a cabinet member for highways.

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brooksby replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
3 likes

I have wondered what the emissions are like for a double decker bus running its usual route while carrying three people and a driver...

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kingleo replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
2 likes

He is an F1 and classic car enthusiast.

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kingleo replied to eburtthebike | 3 years ago
0 likes

He is an F1 and classic car enthusiast.

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Awavey replied to kingleo | 3 years ago
0 likes

So ? it wouldnt matter if he was a guest presenter on Clarksons Top Gear (probably) all he did in the end was rubber stamp the conclusions of a report that council officials at WSCC produced for the council cabinet.

Why that report concluded that decision should be the focus of peoples complaining, not the councillor in this case.

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