Cyclists nudge seafront route quest up a gear

Thirteen riders from Sustrans - a charity supporting sustainable transport - were on the final leg of a 200-mile trip from Newhaven to Brighton, via Dieppe, Calais and Dover.

They joined members of local cycling club the Bexhill Wheelers outside the De La Warr Pavilion, having pushed their bikes across the shingle beach from Hastings.

"It is one of our ambitions to get a prominent route in Bexhill," said Simon Pratt, regional director of Sustrans. "We have just pushed our bikes from Hastings, and it will be great if we could come through from the promenade, from Hastings, and then link up through Bexhill and beyond."

The group was set to finish its five-day journey in Brighton later that day - another five or six hours cycling, according to Simon.

Ian Hollidge, of the Bexhill Wheelers, joined Simon in calling for better provision for the town's cyclists, adding: "We're saying the Next Wave developments should include a cycling route along in front of the Pavilion."

The Wheelers are asking for a cycle route cutting through the grassed area behind the Colonnade, joining the promenade to the east with the kiosk soon to be built on West Parade.

"The council know it's got to be done. It's been on the agenda for 16 years now."

Responsibility for cycling routes in Bexhill is shared between East Sussex County Council (ESCC) and Rother District Council (RDC).

County governs any road routes, whereas RDC has control of the seafront.

Rother chief executive Derek Stevens said:"The council is aware that there are groups and individuals who would like to see cycling along the West Parade part of Bexhill's promenade.

"Cycling along the promenade is currently prohibited by the seafront bylaws, but a working group has been set up to examine whether this ban is still appropriate.

"They will report back to council with their findings in due course."

A spokesman for East Sussex County Council said: "We are working with Rother District Council's bylaws working group and are investigating the options for cyclists along the seafront."