Scaynes Hill Active Travel (SHLAT)

The SHLAT group has been set up with the remit of promoting a dedicated safe cycling and walking route between Scaynes Hill and Lindfield.  You can read here the latest news regarding the outcomes from the survey, distribution of the survey report to various stakeholders, consultations with landowners and preparation of a Feasibility Report. We have arranged the entries below in reverse date order so the latest is at the top. If you want to be notified each time this page is updated with new information please e-mail shlat@btinternet.com so that you can be put on a notification list.  If you would like to indicate your support for this project it would be greatly appreciated if you could read the Feasibility Report (or at least the 2 page Executive Summary) and then write a brief e-mail to WSCC and MSDC with a copy to SHLAT.  Click on the green ‘Support the project’ button below for more details.  If you are concerned about giving us your e-mail address please see our Privacy Notice giving details of how your information will be used in compliance with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

The following documents prepared by SHLAT are available for viewing and downloading:

Click on a title above to view and download a copy of the document.

Abbreviations:

      • WSCC – West Sussex County Council
      • MSDC – Mid Sussex District Council
      • LRPC – Lindfield Rural Parish Council
      • LPC – Lindfield Parish Council
      • SHSG – Scaynes Hill Sustainability Group
      • LCWIP – Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan
      • LTIP – Local Traffic Improvement Programme
      • S106 – Section 106 developer provided infrastructure funds

August 2025

    • SHLAT preparing a response to the WSP review re-affirming and supporting with evidence the reliability and robustness of the survey results as a means of estimating demand
    • MSDC respond to SHLAT’s request for a meeting, saying it is premature since the transactions for the transfer of the Country Park have not yet been completed.  It will be transferred to the Estates and Parks Department of MSDC, who SHLAT will need to contact.

June/July 2025

    • WSP’s review for WSCC of the SHLAT Feasibility Report is received.  Review is largely positive about SHLAT proposals but proposes a higher cost estimate (largely by higher risk allowances) and throws doubt on the reliability of the survey results as a means of predicting demand.  They recommend a much lower demand in accordance with a generic methodology, which when combined with their higher cost estimate lowers the Benefit to Cost Ratio (BCR) and thus reducing the project from a High Value one to a Low Value for money.
    • LRPC award the contract to Transport Initiative (TI) to proceed with the Walstead connectivity study. 

April 2025

    • WSP said to have finished their review for WSCC of the SHLAT Feasibility Report but awaiting internal approval before being made available for public view.
    • LRPC issue a tender for bids to carry out the Walstead connectivity study. 
    • MSDC not responding to SHLAT’s request for a meeting to discuss path arrangements through the Country Park.

January 2025

    • LRPC ascertain that the WSP review does not include the issues of connectivity through the three housing estates near Walstead (Walstead Park, Heathwood Park and Lindfield Meadows) where there are some legal matters to resolve.  As a result LRPC agree to make an enquiry for a small feasibility study of the Walstead connectivity issues. 
    • MSDC agree in principal with Vistry to take over the development and running of the Country Park part of the Walstead Park development.  SHLAT asks MSDC Planning for a meeting to discuss path arrangements through the Country Park.

September 2024

    • The report on the WSCC Active Travel Strategy consultation is published specifically mentioning the Scaynes Hill – Lindfield route several times.  The route is listed as the third most wanted route not already included in the draft LCWIP.  WSCC commit in writing that they will undertake their own Feasibility Study of the Scaynes Hill – Lindfield route by the end of March 2025 based on the SHLAT report, and appoint consultant WSP to do the review. 
    • MSDC have failed to meet their commitment to work with the developer of Walstead Park to upgrade the proposed footpath through the country park to be suitable for bi-directional walking and cycling as part of the development. This would have formed a key part of the route and would have been less disruptive and costly than doing this later.

November 2023

    • SHLAT group meeting with Joy Dennis and other senior officers from WSCC Highways including Sally Blomfield, MSDC Assistant Director Planning and Sustainable Economy.  Although no overall commitment to implementing the project was given at this stage, there were some significant steps towards a potential implementation if suitable funding were to become available in future years. MSDC enthusiastically support the upgrading of the pedestrian path through Walstead Park to allow for bi-directional walking and cycling, and they have undertaken to work with the developer to achieve this. WSCC appreciated the level of the work done by SHLAT and indicated that this would move the project significantly up their priority list for Active Travel schemes. They already have a pipeline of projects for next year (2024/25) but will consider starting preliminary studies towards the end of 2024, with a view to potentially incorporating this scheme in their 2025/26 programme should sufficient funding be available. 

October 2023

    • As a result of the SHLAT Feasibility Report submission and the large number of messages sent to WSCC in support of the project, the SHLAT group was invited by Joy Dennis, Cabinet Member for Highways & Transport at WSCC, to a meeting in November to discuss the project.  

September 2023

    • Feasibility Report published and available for viewing and download on this webpage.  Copies of the report submitted to WSCC requesting that they adopt the project and apply for the remaining funding required, and to MSDC asking for their assistance in getting the key link path in the Walstead development upgraded to be suitable for bi-directional cycling & walking.
    •  Supporters of the scheme encouraged to read the Feasibility Report and send e-mail messages to WSCC and MSDC requesting that both Councils engage with the project and consider it for implementation.  As a result over 80 supportive e-mails were sent.

August 2023

    • Decision taken to delay submission of Feasibility Report to WSCC and MSDC until September, after the summer holidays.
    • Vistry submit sketches of proposed path changes in the Country Park to MSDC Planning Officer to seek an opinion on potential planning implications.  MSDC Planning consider path changes to be a non-material amendment,  which can be reativey easily made.
    • Report summary slide pack revised to be in line with revised Feasibility Report.

July 2023

    • Endorsements from local councillors in support of the project included in the Feasibility Report.
    • Requests made to MSDC Planning to set up a joint meeting with Vistry/Bovis Homes to discuss planning implications and potential funding solutions for widening the relevant path through the Country Park part of their development.
    • Additional amount of £358,000 of S106 funds identified that WSCC have already allocated to this project, making a total of £493,000 or nearly 50% of the estimated project cost.  This raises the Benefit-Cost Ratio to make this project Very High value for money and priority.
    • Draft Feasibility Study report updated and finalised to take into account additional information, particularly regarding ranking for the project.

June 2023

    • Foreword to the report in support of the project received from Mims Davies MP.
    • Vistry/Bovis Home respond that they would be prepared to widen the relevant path through the Country Park part of their development to make it suitable for bi-directional walking and cycling provided it did not cause a Planning issue, but would not be able to fund the change estimated at about £60,000.
    • Draft Feasibility Study report updated to take into account comments and additional information.  A slide pack presentation summarising the report prepared.

May 2023

    • Draft Feasibility Study report completed and circulated within the group and  for comments and review.  Specific relevant details shared with some landowners to verify that their views have been taken into account.
    • Copy of report sent to Vistry/Bovis Homes, developer for Walstead Park, with a request for widening the path that they are providing through the Country Park part of their development to make it suitable for bi-directional walking and cycling.
    • Draft report sent to our local Member of Parliament, Mims Davies, asking whether she would write a foreword to our Report indicating her support for the project.
    • SHLAT group extended to include newly elected Councillors at District and Parish level.

April 2023

    • LRPC agree to request WSCC to allocate £100,000 of Section 106 money available for transport improvements from the current Walstead Park development to this project.
    • Drafting of the Feasibility Study report continues and is anticipated to be finalised in May, when it will be submitted to WSCC with a request that they put in an application to the Active Travel Fund for the balance of funding required to progress the project.

March 2023

    • MSDC LCWIP published and has no mention of the SHLAT project as it is purely urban centric dealing only with the three main towns of Burgess Hill, Haywards Heath and East Grinstead.
    • Detailed cost estimate prepared, indicating that the scheme would cost about £1 million (not £2.5 million as quoted by WSCC) and drafting of the Feasibility Study report started.

February 2023

    • Due to the WSCC response it was decided to prepare a full costed Feasibility Report to show that the project is good value for money and should be considered as a higher priority.  SHLAT group was joined by a Director of a local civil engineering contractor well versed in preparing cost estimates for this type of project, which makes this possible.

January 2023

    • Two new housing development sites in Scaynes Hill identified in the revised MSDC District Plan could potentially yield further substantial sums of Transport Section 106 money which could be allocated to the SHLAT project.
    • Contact established with the new developer of Walstead Park to explore mutual synergies and connectivity of their proposed paths to the SHLAT path.

December 2022

    • Dialogue initiated with WSCC as their response to a Freedom of Information request about the LTIP appraisal indicates significant deficiencies/errors in the process and prioritisation of the scheme.  Maps of preferred routes to be included in the MSDC LCWIP indicate potential connectivity with the SHLAT preferred route.

November 2022

    • Application for funding to WSCC Community Highway Scheme (CHS) rejected as anticipated since scheme costs exceed the CHS ceiling.  However scheme added to the WSCC Local Traffic Improvement Programme (LTIP), which is intended for larger schemes.  Initial appraisal by LTIP suggests that the scheme would be low priority.

July 2022

    • Application for funding made to WSCC Community Highway Scheme at their suggestion. Decision expected in October.
    • MSDC Cabinet Member responsible for LCWIP informs SHLAT group that this scheme will not be included in the LCWIP which only covers the 3 major towns.

May 2022

    • Slide pack outlining the case for the project shared with MSDC Cabinet Member responsible for LCWIP.

April 2022

    • Slide pack outlining the case for the project prepared and shared with Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at WSCC.

March 2022

    • Only 1 out of 14 responses received from landowners was against the scheme. Discussions and meetings held with key landowners.

February 2022

    • Consultation letters asking for comments sent to all landowners with land/property adjacent to the first stretch of the road route.

January 2022

    • MSDC Cabinet Member responsible for LCWIP briefed about scheme.
    • Walstead Park development put on hold.

December 2021

    • Landowners either side of Bedales Hill agreed in principle to permitting a path on a strip of their land adjacent to the road.
    • Developers of Walstead Park provide details of proposed paths in their development.
    • Walking survey of route as far as Walstead carried out.

November 2021

    • Discussions and meetings with key landowners adjacent to the road route.
    • Initial discussions with developers of Walstead Park to co-ordinate with paths being provided there.

October 2021

    • Cross country routes abandoned due to lack of landowner support.

September 2021

    • SHLAT group joined by a Transport Consultant with experience of Active Travel schemes.
    • Identified potential additional Section 106 funds from the Walstead Park development.

August 2021

    • Discussions with landowners on cross country routes.

July 2021

    • SHLAT group Terms of Reference agreed.

June 2021

    • Combined Survey Report published by SHSG and sent to WSCC, MSDC, LRPC & LPC.
    • SHLAT working group set up consisting of memers of all councils and SHSG.

May 2021

    • Survey targeted at Lindfield issued by SHSG.

April 2021

    • Survey Report published by SHSG and sent to WSCC, MSDC, LRPC & LPC.

March 2021

    • Survey targeted at Scaynes Hill issued by SHSG based on the provision of £135,000 of Section 106 money from the Barns Cottage development specifically allocated to a Scaynes Hill – Lindfield cycle/walkway as identified in the Neighbourhood Plan.