We, the undersigned, request that East Sussex County Councils should take immediate action to prevent cycling on Sovereign Harbour promenades.

This is necessary because:

The vision for the Sovereign Harbour Neighbourhood, as expressed in the Eastbourne LDF and the Sovereign Harbour SPD, clearly shows these promenades as pedestrian only routes. This vision was endorsed by harbour residents at the public consultation, agreed by Eastbourne Borough Council and ratified by the Secretary of State for Communities.

The Sovereign Harbour Neighbourhood vision is being challenged by a minority cycling pressure group.

Ample provision for cycling was incorporated in the Sovereign Harbour plan.

The layout of the Sovereign Harbour promenades, especially the blind, right-angle bends, and blind access routes to residential developments makes them unsuitable for cycling.

Pedestrian safety on the Sovereign Harbour promenades, especially that of the most vulnerable, is being compromised by anti-social cycling.

Properties on the Outer Harbour promenade in front of Bermuda Place, San Juan Court and Dominica Court have rear gardens opening directly onto the promenade. This is the only promenade in Sovereign Harbour that has direct access from residential properties. For this reason, a planning application to run the Dotto Train on this promenade was rejected by the Eastbourne Borough Council Planning Committee.

There is evidence of a serious injury to a visitor to the town who was walking on a Sovereign Harbour promenade, caused by a cyclist.

By allowing cycling on Sovereign Harbour promenades, East Sussex County Council would be negligent in its duty of care to promenade users.

Government guidelines state that pedestrian safety is paramount and shared space should only be considered when all other options have been exhausted.