We the undersigned request that Eastbourne Borough Council should reverse its decision to allow cycling on Eastbourne seafront promenades.

This is necessary because:

The decision to allow cycling on the seafront promenades will, inevitably, increase danger to pedestrians, especially the most vulnerable. Recently a young child was seriously injured in a collision with two cyclists illegally cycling on one of the promenades.

The questions used in the limited, and poorly publicised consultation, were loaded, and the consultation responses were dominated by a minority pressure group. There were no checks at the public event, or the online consultation to prevent multiple responses. The presumption was that those who didn’t vote were in favour of change instead of the status quo. The whole process was badly flawed.

Correspondence in the press and on social media websites indicates that residents of Eastbourne are generally opposed to the decision to open the promenades to cycling.

By allowing cycling on seafront promenades, Eastbourne Borough 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.