Cycle track debate

The questioner adds: "While I have sympathy for pedestrians, large stretches of the promenade have few or no people for much of the time outside a few peak times like Sunday afternoons and when cycling would cause no problems for anyone.

"A blanket ban via the byelaws seems heavy handed and unenlightened. Is it possible to regulate times and usage rather than ban outright?

"Further, other promenades seem to be able to mix pedestrians with cyclists successfully - why cannot Bexhill? We need to encourage much more cycling and a ban on cycling along the promenade seems old fashioned, anti-environment, anti health and unnecessary. Also I have not met any younger person in support of banning cycling altogether.

"I seem to remember a plan on cycling about a year ago - whatever happened to that?

"Please can we be more constructive about solutions. The prom belongs to us all and it is possible for us to use it intelligently."

The leader says: "Thank you for your comments regarding cycling on the promenade. Rother District Council is working in partnership with East Sussex County Council who is the lead authority as far as identifying and implementing cycling routes."

Cllr Gubby gives the following response from East Sussex County Council:

"For the reasons you state in your e-mail (environment, health) we are generally supportive of cycling as a sustainable mode of transport and have been working with Rother District Council and the Bexhill Cycle Forum to identify a network of cycle routes for the town. The position is that the County Council's officers have identified a number of routes that are currently being looked at in more detail

"However, you will appreciate that allowing cycling on the promenade is quite different from the creation of cycle lanes or dedicated cycle tracks, and potentially more controversial,. In the past elected Councillors on behalf of residents in Bexhill made it very clear that they do not want cycling on the promenade and in particular, elderly and disabled people have expressed concerns that they might be knocked down by inconsiderate cyclists.

"The Leader of Rother District Council has specifically asked East Sussex County Council to undertake a consultative exercise to establish the level of public support for cycling on the seafront which may or may not include parts of the promenade.

"As you say, times have changed and it is important for us to establish the opinion of Bexhill residents regarding cycling on the seafront and/or the promenade. We hope to be in a position to consult widely during 2007 on a range of proposals."