Promenade and Sea front Bye Laws: The current bye laws which date back to 1912 have been reviewed, our views along with others were considered with a positive outcome. The end result is that the Working Group recommended to Scrutiny Committee that for a trial period of one year Cycling will be allowed on the whole length of the promenade with pedestrian priority. The Bye law working group’s review minutes of January 11th 2010 can be read on the RDC web site link: Rother District Council.  These give a good background to history and considerations in allowing cycling on the sea front.  The recommendation from that meeting is that cycling on the promenade should be allowed, subject to further consideration on specific areas. It was not always easy to obtain an agreement from everyone to allowing cycling and although we have a years trial it is important that it is shown to be a success.  We gave a presentation to the Services and Scrutiny Committee on 7th February 2011 explaining why cycling should be encouraged and the Byelaw changed to meet the 21st century.  Three students from the Bexhill Youth Council gave a passionate talk explaining why they would like it changed and this swayed some to move in favor. The old and still current Byelaw says at present “Nobody shall without reasonable excuse cycle on the promenade”  this is suitably ambiguous.  The next process is to have the change sanctioned by Full Council then sent to Parliment for approval and finally advertised locally, then the year trial will start.

Connect 2 St.Leonards to Glyne Gap: information can be found on this Sustrans link: http://www.sustransconnect2.org.uk/resources/Connect2%20MoU%20Signing%20Presentation.ppt#256,1,Slide 1.  Full planning permission was granted 22nd September 2010, It will be a shared use design, with no one group with priority over another.  We are on the steering group to assist with the design and implementation of this fantastic scheme. The scheme is now almost complete with initial opening mid December, launch in Jan 2012 and a grand opening in April 2012. The portrait bench is up by Glyne Gap and surfacing should take place w/b 28th Nov. Congratulations to ESSC and look forward to the grand opening in 2012.

Pebsham Country Park: This is currently being discussed between ESCC, Hastings Council and Rother District council and we are awaiting replies as to when and where the cycle routes will be and how they will link up with the above two projects. More needs to be done to the existing paths so they are usable also linking with other routes.

Next Wave Project: This is currently under construction and there is no provision for shared space routes or specific cycle paths which could have been incorporated around the Colonnade. We are working with Rother and ESCC to achieve a safe off road route for all. There is a possibility that a new route currently being discussed will be available to see in November 2010. It is unfortunate that despite asking for cycle provision to be included we have no specific signs or routes encouraging safe responsible cycling. However on a positive note there are more cycle loops and on the information sign it does not say “No Cycling”.  Children and vulnerable slow users should hence not contravene the Byelaws.

Bexhill Cycle Network: This was conceived in 1999, designed between the Bexhill Cycle Forum and ESCC around 2005. Details can be found on their web site, however this as we have found on our Tuesday summer evening rides has not been implemented. Although nothing has yet happened we have a chance revisit and implement some if it with the Local Sustainable Transport Fund bid and include some in the Local Transport Plan 3.  Also with the Bexhill Town Centre Regeneration Project again some transport measures may be included.

National Cycle Network Route 2: This the seafront route  is our Cooden Drive advisory cycle lane, which allows for vehicle parking. Parking in the cycle lane, advisory or not, makes it just like any other road, so it is of marginal benefit mainly as giving a perception of reduced width road helping to reduce speeding. The NCN2 goes along past the Star Inn to Pevensey roundabout.  I found it better to travel over the level crossing at Normans Bay to Pevensey if going into Eastbourne.  However the promenade could be made as part of the NCN2 ???

Local Transport Plan 3: Please click here to read our response to the East Sussex County Council LTP3

What we are campaigning for is that all the authorities responsible for these projects, routes or networks work together and provide a 21st century safe, sustainable alternative to motor travel. Please.........

 “We cannot predict the future, but we can plan for it”