By Andy Lock,on February 1st,2013 The first section of the Egrets Way from Kingston to Lewes now has full funding,with the final £50,000 agreed this week by the ESCC Economy Transport &Environment Committee. We look forward to seeing work begin this spring! OVCN are thrilled that work on the first section of the Egrets Way will start very soon,and as a community led organisation would like to thank everyone involved,especially all our members throughout the valley. Eastern area manager for the South Downs National Park Authority,Jeremy Burgess,said:“In terms of the first section of the Egrets Way I think this is excellent news and the culmination of a great deal of hard work by the community. The SDNPA is very keen to continue to support initiatives that deliver safe and sustainable transport alternatives within the National Park.”

Neville Harrison,chairman of the Ouse Valley Cycle Network,warmly welcomed the first part of the Egrets Way:“We can celebrate the culmination of years of preparatory work by the Kingston/Cranedown group,the vision and commitment of OVCN,Norman Baker’s funding initiative,Sustrans’ belief in the project and Simon Pratt’s willingness to take risk.”

Sustrans Regional Director South East,Simon Pratt added  “Sustrans is delighted that East Sussex County Council has agreed to support the Lewes-Kingston path. Along with £150,000 from the government’s Community Linking Places Fund and £11,000 raised locally,this means that the path can be built in the next few weeks. We are sure the path will be well used and we look forward to further development of the Egrets Way.”

Sussex Express article:http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/local/kingston-to-lewes-cyclepath-could-be-finished-by-april-1-4737025