Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
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.
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Updates
September 24, 2014
Reaching this level of support confirms that I am not the only one terrified to step out of my own back gate. Seeing so many neighbors agree that our promenades must remain safe spaces for families is incredibly moving. We are clearly ready to hold the council to the original vision for our home.
9 Comments
The problem is not simply cyclists , it's the type of person cycling. If the cyclists demeanour is polite and considerate and they are aware of others sensibilities and fears then we can all rub along fine . It's the usual problem of the few spoiling it for the many . i fear we will have to do the proverbial baby out with the bath water thing ! Shame .
I agree 100% with the above 3 comments! Common sense should prevail in this - Lets not go back to the days when Eastbourne was considered to be God's waiting room! Perhaps I should get on my high horse & moan about the numerous dog owners who let (?) their dogs jump up at me when I'm out running - Shall I start a petition on that?!!
Ban them now before someone gets seriously hurt. Its a promenade not a velodrome!
Too many near misses lately!! Why is it so hard for them to use the cycle paths provided? Those right angle bends are deathtraps for little ones running out from their houses.
Total madness. I was almost taken out by a bike going way too fast near the shops last week. People walking their dogs or kids shouldn't have to look over their shoulders all the time. Keep them on the road where they belong
The problem with petitions such as this are that they only present one point of view. I agree wholeheartedly with the 4 previous comments As residents of the Harbour (and members of SHRA) for a number years, at times as cyclists, more often as motorists and pedestrians, but essentially just polite and considerate people, my wife and I have often ventured out on the Harbour Walkways on our cycles and never once have we been rebuked by pedestrians or had any indication whatsoever that our cycling was causing any problem to any other user of the walkways. We have certainly never abused pedestrians! SHRA make reference to ‘anti social’ cycling but it is not clear from the context whether they infer that all cyclists on the Harbour Walkways are anti social or that some cycle in an anti social manner. To demonise all cyclists because of the actions of a few irresponsible idiots is grossly unfair and divisive. No matter what actions the council are able to take in response to this petition the ‘dangerous’ minority will still cycle on the walkways in a dangerous fashion (how many of you who will support this petition have never broken the speed limit whilst driving?) but the considerate majority will feel intimidated. How will responsible parents now feel about taking their children for a leisurely ride around the harbour? I’m not really too sure quite what SHRA expects ESDC to do in response to the petition. If it is the intention that there be some form of ‘policing’ of the walkways to deter/fine cyclists then quite frankly I would prefer that any surplus money be spent (I appreciate different councils are involved) on ‘policing’ the walkways to 1. Deter dog owners who fail to clean up their dog’s mess, 2. Deter dog owners who allow their dogs to walk off the lead, which gives some irresponsible owners the excuse that they can’t see their dogs making a mess and 3. Deter those who drop litter, which together with the dog mess makes the Harbour a rather unpleas
Not one, but two petitions! Oh dear, SHRA have really got their knickers in a twist over this! And I'm afraid their over reaction does them no credit at all. As a responsible cyclists I OPPOSE THIS PETITION and WILL NOT SIGN it. There is no good reason why pedestrians and cyclists cannot share many of the proms in the harbour area - the fact is that they already do - right now and without problem. Most of the proms are plenty wider enough to be shared - and most are considerably wider in fact than every other shared cycle path in the Harbour. Also, a number of cyclists use the proms to commute to work and school. SHRA's interventions would force these cyclists on to busy rush hour roads. The police also cycle along the proms. I am not saying that blanket approval should be given to cycling on every prom in the Harbour (SHRA seems to be going for a blanket ban). Each one would need to be properly evaluated for suitability and access. And, although not ideal, generally, shared cycle routes do work well. It should be noted that SHRA's interpretation above of the LDF/SPD 'vision' is their own. There has been no proper discussion about the provision of future cycle routes in the Harbour as it continues to grow (and, importantly, to join up with the rest of Eastbourne), and certainly no specific consultation on the matter. I agree with the comments by David Preager - it is one badly behaved cyclist that has caused people to get upset. It is a shame that SHRA is using this one incident to try to prevent the expansion of cycle routes not only in the Harbour, but also elsewhere in Eastbourne. Let's share our lovely Harbour. PS I suggest that the SHRA committee ease their legs over a crossbar and give cycling a go - they would then be able to appreciate just how much superb and safe control a cyclist has on a modern machine.
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
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.
Updates
September 24, 2014
Reaching this level of support confirms that I am not the only one terrified to step out of my own back gate. Seeing so many neighbors agree that our promenades must remain safe spaces for families is incredibly moving. We are clearly ready to hold the council to the original vision for our home.
9 Comments
It is a community for everyone. If you ban cyclists then next children, dogs, fishermen, people from the beach because of litter..... everyone has a pet hate but the vast majority act responsibly and this is still a minority of occasions based on the number of times these activities are carried out every day. Working to find a compromise is surely more constructive.
The problem is not simply cyclists , it's the type of person cycling. If the cyclists demeanour is polite and considerate and they are aware of others sensibilities and fears then we can all rub along fine . It's the usual problem of the few spoiling it for the many . i fear we will have to do the proverbial baby out with the bath water thing ! Shame .
I agree 100% with the above 3 comments! Common sense should prevail in this - Lets not go back to the days when Eastbourne was considered to be God's waiting room! Perhaps I should get on my high horse & moan about the numerous dog owners who let (?) their dogs jump up at me when I'm out running - Shall I start a petition on that?!!
Ban them now before someone gets seriously hurt. Its a promenade not a velodrome!
Too many near misses lately!! Why is it so hard for them to use the cycle paths provided? Those right angle bends are deathtraps for little ones running out from their houses.
Total madness. I was almost taken out by a bike going way too fast near the shops last week. People walking their dogs or kids shouldn't have to look over their shoulders all the time. Keep them on the road where they belong
The problem with petitions such as this are that they only present one point of view. I agree wholeheartedly with the 4 previous comments As residents of the Harbour (and members of SHRA) for a number years, at times as cyclists, more often as motorists and pedestrians, but essentially just polite and considerate people, my wife and I have often ventured out on the Harbour Walkways on our cycles and never once have we been rebuked by pedestrians or had any indication whatsoever that our cycling was causing any problem to any other user of the walkways. We have certainly never abused pedestrians! SHRA make reference to ‘anti social’ cycling but it is not clear from the context whether they infer that all cyclists on the Harbour Walkways are anti social or that some cycle in an anti social manner. To demonise all cyclists because of the actions of a few irresponsible idiots is grossly unfair and divisive. No matter what actions the council are able to take in response to this petition the ‘dangerous’ minority will still cycle on the walkways in a dangerous fashion (how many of you who will support this petition have never broken the speed limit whilst driving?) but the considerate majority will feel intimidated. How will responsible parents now feel about taking their children for a leisurely ride around the harbour? I’m not really too sure quite what SHRA expects ESDC to do in response to the petition. If it is the intention that there be some form of ‘policing’ of the walkways to deter/fine cyclists then quite frankly I would prefer that any surplus money be spent (I appreciate different councils are involved) on ‘policing’ the walkways to 1. Deter dog owners who fail to clean up their dog’s mess, 2. Deter dog owners who allow their dogs to walk off the lead, which gives some irresponsible owners the excuse that they can’t see their dogs making a mess and 3. Deter those who drop litter, which together with the dog mess makes the Harbour a rather unpleas
Not one, but two petitions! Oh dear, SHRA have really got their knickers in a twist over this! And I'm afraid their over reaction does them no credit at all. As a responsible cyclists I OPPOSE THIS PETITION and WILL NOT SIGN it. There is no good reason why pedestrians and cyclists cannot share many of the proms in the harbour area - the fact is that they already do - right now and without problem. Most of the proms are plenty wider enough to be shared - and most are considerably wider in fact than every other shared cycle path in the Harbour. Also, a number of cyclists use the proms to commute to work and school. SHRA's interventions would force these cyclists on to busy rush hour roads. The police also cycle along the proms. I am not saying that blanket approval should be given to cycling on every prom in the Harbour (SHRA seems to be going for a blanket ban). Each one would need to be properly evaluated for suitability and access. And, although not ideal, generally, shared cycle routes do work well. It should be noted that SHRA's interpretation above of the LDF/SPD 'vision' is their own. There has been no proper discussion about the provision of future cycle routes in the Harbour as it continues to grow (and, importantly, to join up with the rest of Eastbourne), and certainly no specific consultation on the matter. I agree with the comments by David Preager - it is one badly behaved cyclist that has caused people to get upset. It is a shame that SHRA is using this one incident to try to prevent the expansion of cycle routes not only in the Harbour, but also elsewhere in Eastbourne. Let's share our lovely Harbour. PS I suggest that the SHRA committee ease their legs over a crossbar and give cycling a go - they would then be able to appreciate just how much superb and safe control a cyclist has on a modern machine.
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It is a community for everyone. If you ban cyclists then next children, dogs, fishermen, people from the beach because of litter..... everyone has a pet hate but the vast majority act responsibly and this is still a minority of occasions based on the number of times these activities are carried out every day. Working to find a compromise is surely more constructive.