Cyclists urge action for cycle route on busy road
A CYCLE route is urgently needed to prevent cyclists being killed on a dangerous stretch of road in Seaford.
Councillor Eddie Collict has campaigned for years for land to be acquired and a route introduced following complaints by riders using the A259 road between Exceat and the entry to Seaford.
One cyclist has already been killed on that part of road and Cllr Collict said he is lucky to be alive after toppling into the road during a cycle ride.
Last week he met with Stewart Angell, a voluntary part time ranger for Sustrans – the UK's leading sustainable transport charity – to highlight his concern.
He now hopes Mr Angell will be able to contact Sustrans to see if they can help with his plight.
Cllr Collict, a member of Cycle Seahaven, said there were regular complaints from cyclists being cut up by motorists on the climb up the hill and added, "So many people have had very close misses but unless it is reported the police won't know anything about it.
"I'm quite worried about the situation because Friston Forest is a good place to cycle and with the summer holidays coming up people will go there but many do not have a car to drive down to the forest.
"If a cycle route was created this could also be used by walkers too."
There is a National Trust path that cyclists sometimes use to avoid going on the road but this has led to complaints because they are not suppose to access it.
The stretch of road is an important link with the Cuckoo Trail and part of the route from the London to Paris Bike Ride.
The road is fairly narrow and has a grass verge that walkers and cyclists can access but Cllr Collict added, ''The verge can be used but my experience is it can be dangerous and I was lucky not be have been killed about two years back when my cycle plunged down the steepest section of the bank and deposited me face first in the road."
Clive Aberdour, another member of Cycle Seahaven, said he recently cycled the London to Paris ride and the stretch between Exceat and Chyngton Lane was the worst bit of the journey because it is so dangerous.
A spokesman for East Sussex County Council said, "We are keen to encourage cycling and work with others to explore opportunities to do so.
"However, we are focusing our efforts on the way people travel to work or to school as we believe short journeys of this type have the greatest potential for people to cycle.
"To this end, we are continuing to maintain and promote existing recreational routes rather than building new ones."
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Weather for Eastbourne
Saturday 25 May 2013
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