Tackling pavement cyclists 'top priority' in Aldwick

Tackling pavement cyclists has been agreed as the number one community policing priority in Aldwick.

Targeting the law-breaking pedallers was decided at the first public meeting of the Aldwick neighbourhood management forum.

The forum's members of councillors, business representatives and police community support officer Nick Baker opened up the latest of their regular sessions for anyone to attend.

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Some 40 people went along to the meeting at the Aldwick Free Church (Baptist).

One of them, Pam Edgington, called for action against those who used footpaths to cycle along, seemingly oblivious to the dangers they caused to everyone on foot.

"My biggest concern is the number of people I see cycling along the pavements around Aldwick," she said.

"It might be a bit strong saying it is an epidemic but the situation is getting worse.

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"I've seen people step out onto the road in Fish Lane to make way for cyclists on the pavement. There's no excuse for that type of behaviour."

She had asked the county council to increase the number of cycleways around Bognor Regis to help overcome the clashes between cyclists and pedestrians but that was not going to happen quickly.

"So, it's over to the police. What action are they going to take about this?" she asked.

PCSO Nick Baker said: "This is not something we can shirk. When we find this offence, we will take action."

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He outlined how over-16s would be hit with a fixed penalty notice when they were stopped for cycling illegally.

Those who were younger would be subject to a three-step series of stronger actions. These were a letter informing their parents they had been stopped, a stronger warning letter and then being reported for enforcement.

County councillor Mike Coleman assured the audience more cyclepaths were the top priority of the local highways sub-committee he chaired.

"There are more and more people cycling which is possibly why there are more people on the pavements," he stated.

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One of the projects being considered was a cyclepath from Pagham stretching eastwards.

After pavement cycling, the meeting agreed with PCSO Baker's other priorities of cracking down on cars being sold in laybys, clearing street furniture from the Rose Green Road/Hewarts Lane junction, targeting speeding motorists along Lower Bognor Road and considering the need for new signs around Aldwick Avenue's junction with Fish Lane.

He will report on his successes at the forum's next public meeting in a few months' time.

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