What is the plan for safer streets, now, ask pro campaigners?

The group, led by Duncan Kay, fought a spirited campaign but could not generate enough support to see their scheme progress.

Speaking immediately after the meeting, Mr Kay said they ‘had to accept’ the result but remained ‘very disappointed’.

In a statement, he said: “The result of the consultation doesn’t change the fact that Worthing has the highest numbers of deaths and injuries to pedestrians and cyclists of anywhere in West Sussex.

“Now that our councillors have rejected the most cost-effective way of addressing this, we would ask them what their plan is to improve the safety of our streets, particularly for the most vulnerable in our community.”

Anti group 20’s Pointless hailed the result of the consultation, believing ‘common sense had prevailed’.

Campaigner Elise Mason congratulated the county council for giving residents a chance to have their say.

She said: “We were always confident that the good sense of the people of Worthing would assert itself, if given the chance, and this has indeed happened.

“We think that the very large number of votes was because people, for once, believed that there was no “done deal” already agreed behind the scenes. “Therefore, a vote would mean something. It did; and the CLC took full account of the results when making their final decision.”

Miss Mason added her thanks to her fellow campaigners and supporters, urging others around the country to resist similar schemes.

The 20’s Pointless website will remain online for guidance.