Part of A259 to be replaced by cycle lane

Drivers will still be able to park vehicles on the A259 between Fourth Avenue and Hove Street

A council is pushing ahead with plans to remove a lane of the A259 in East Sussex to build a seafront cycle lane.

The current path leaves the A259 at Fourth Avenue and goes along King’s Esplanade, behind the King Alfred Leisure Centre, before rejoining the roadside at Hove Street.

The proposals would see a two-way cycle path installed along the 600m (1,968ft) stretch of the A259 between Fourth Avenue and Hove Street, reducing westbound traffic to one lane.

The plans were approved by the new-look Brighton & Hove City Council at a cabinet meeting.

However, funding still needs to be approved by the Department for Transport and the full council for the plans to be finalised.

Cyclists currently follow the route shown in red, but would see a new cycle path installed along the route shown in green

Andy Peters, of Brighton and Hove Cab Trade Association, raised concerns about the impact on local residents and businesses.

“This is going to create a hazardous obstacle course for anyone wanting to cross the Kingsway,” he told BBC Radio Sussex.

Duncan Blinkhorn said he welcomed any extensions to the existing cycle network

Meanwhile, Duncan Blinkhorn, co-ordinator at Brighton Bike Hub, said he welcomed any extensions to the existing cycle network.

“The potential for people travelling along this part of the coastal route into the future is huge,” he said.

“It’s an affordable way to get around, it’s a healthy way to get around and if we’re looking towards a low or zero carbon future, it’s an important part of that as well.”

The pavement area of the road is already used by cyclists and pedestrians. The two-way cycle path would take up a larger area of the pavement under the plans.

The council previously estimated it will cost £4.3m to install the new 1.1-mile (1.81km) stretch of cycle lane between Fourth Avenue and Wharf Road.