The White Bridge Link

An exciting new project to link up Steyning, Bramber & Beeding

Would you like your children to cycle safely to school? Is your bike getting rusty in the shed? Does the idea of getting a bit more active outdoors appeal? And would you appreciate being able to access local businesses and amenities more easily without getting in the car?

Steyning, Bramber and Upper Beeding are right next door to each other. But we lack a safe cycling option between the three parishes.

This is a particular issue for children travelling to the various school sites. The current options involve busy roads, roundabouts and dangerous crossings. And the existing footpath across the water meadows is a muddy quagmire for several months of the year.

A working party formed in April 2022, under the auspices of the Steyning & District Community Partnership, has been busy looking at options for improving walking and cycling connections between the three communities.

So what’s the plan?
We’re calling it the 'The White Bridge Link' – named after the metal bridge over the Adur, once painted white, which is the central to the plan.

The proposal is to upgrade the paths between Kings Barn Lane in Steyning and Saltings Way in Upper Beeding with:

• A consistent, durable, rolled stone surface for easier walking and cycling in all weathers and in all seasons, sympathetic with the rural location.

• Upgraded gates to enable people on bicycles, all terrain mobility scooters and people with pushchairs to use the path.

Achieving full bridleway status would not be practical so the current paths will still be designated as footpaths, but with permissive cycle use.

The intention is to also upgrade the two footpath spurs that lead to St Peter’s Church and to Beeding Bridge, to smoother, all-weather surfaces similar to the ‘Walks For All’ paths south of the bridge. So it will be a win-win for a whole range of local users.

The landowners and government agencies involved have been approached, and all have been supportive. So it’s a case of ‘so far so good’. The next step is to gauge public support.

Two public ‘Drop in’ events are being held in April to share the plans with local residents and get your feedback:

10.00 - 12.00 on Sat 8th April at Beeding & Bramber Village Hall

10.00 - 12.00 on Sat 29th April at the Steyning Centre

Do come along to find out more, and hear about the crowd funding campaign being launched to cover part of the costs of the scheme.

We are hoping this is a good news project that will benefit the whole community, and which all three parishes will get behind!

See more details at: http://visitsteyning.co.uk/whitebridgelink/