D-day on seaside cycling

Cyclists in Bexhill face crunch time this Monday when by-laws governing the pedestrian promenade are reviewed.

A working party of Rother District Council (RDC), headed by 2008 town mayor Cllr Patrick Douart, will meet to discuss all seaside by-laws, including the current law governing cycling, which states: "No person shall without reasonable excuse ride a cycle on the promenade except in any part where there is a designated route for cycling indicated by notices conspicuously displayed on the promenade."

Ian Hollidge has been campaigning with local cycling group the Bexhill Wheelers for more than 10 years to change this law, which he says endangers cyclists forced to jostle with parking cars and busy traffic.

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Mr Hollidge, who recently delivered a petition of more than 300 signatures to Cllr Douart proposing responsible cycling on the prom from Galley Hill to Richmond Road, said: "The problem we have is we feel they may say East Sussex County Council (ESCC) is responsible for providing a cycle track, not Rother.

"But East Sussex hasn't got the money, and is not committed to spending in Bexhill."

A pledge of 380,000 from government quango Sustrans means Connect2, a 2km coastal cycle route connecting Hastings and Bexhill, will be completed by 2012. But the Bexhill Wheelers would like to see this progress extended with a section along Bexhill's seafront.

This would provide walkers and cyclists with a path from South Cliff through to St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings.

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The working group will recommend a decision to RDC, which will confirm it at a council meeting later this year.

And, perhaps mindful of repeated rows between Conservative and Lib-Dem councillors over the Next Wave seafront development, Mr Hollidge appealed for a non-partisan approach.

He said: "Please do not let this be about politics. Just because one group are for cycling does not mean that the other group be naturally opposed. Cycling, sustainability, health, safety and saving the planet are more important."

Information on the Connect2 cycle route can be found at www.sustransconnect2.org.uk

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