Greenways launched

A group of local walking and cycling enthusiasts are launching a new initiative called Sussex Greenways.

Sussex is blessed with miles of off-road footpaths and bridleways, but many are in a poor state or do not connect with each other ; and Sussex Greenways will work with local communities and district and parish councils to remedy this – one mile at a time.

The initiative is being led by Nick Hanna, a former Hastings resident who now lives in Beckley. While living in Hastings, Nick founded Hastings Urban Bikes and was its chair between 2005 – 2010 and responsible for designing the Hastings Cycle Network.

Nick believes that while the national government talks a lot about improving the infrastructure to encourage more people to walk and cycle, rural areas such as Rye and its surroundings are not a priority and will be overlooked. To counter this, Sussex Greenways will work directly with local communities and landowners to tap into other sources of grants and crowd-funding to upgrade paths.

“We already have the right to cycle on bridleways,” Nick said, “but all too often they’re impassable for walkers, cyclists and disabled people because of poor surfacing. We can create an all-weather surface on a rural route at a much lower cost than a highly-engineered urban route, and this is what we’re trying to do.”

In addition, Sussex Greenways will be encouraging village communities to introduce Quiet Lanes, which can help to reduce traffic speeds and make single-track rural roads safer for walkers, cyclists and horse-riders.

“By combining Quiet Lanes with upgraded Bridleways, we hope to create a rural cycling and walking network,” said Nick.

Previously a travel writer, photographer for 25 years and author of 14 books, Nick has joined forces with fellow trustees Richard Watson OBE and Sue Burton, chair of 1066 Cycle Club, to launch Sussex Greenways.

As a keen diver, and the diving holiday correspondent for the Sunday Times between 2000-2005, Nick has seen first hand the devastating effects of global warming in our seas and oceans. His concerns around climate change is one of the driving reasons why he has set up Sussex Greenways.

“Walking and cycling is carbon neutral and is a great way to exercise” Nick explained, “but too often people are put off because the paths aren’t well maintained, impassable or not well signposted.”

For Rye there is an additional benefit of tapping into the growing number of people looking for ‘green tourism’ options. Rye already has a number of national paths and cycleways passing through the town and could act as a hub to attract more walkers and cyclists to visit, who often utilise the train service rather than driving.

Sussex Greenways will be working closely with other national walking and cycling organisations to assist with local knowledge on where paths and bridleways can be upgraded. The initiative will help complement the Ramblers’ Don’t Lose Your Way campaign about re-instating lost paths.

The Sussex Greenways launched a holding page for their website on Friday, May 14, where you can sign up to receive more information and hear how you might get involved.

Image Credits: Nick Hanna .