Hastings councillors object to location of new St Leonards bike rack

The new bike rack was installed at the top of Beaufort Road and paid for by money from the Government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund, which was used to support walking and cycling schemes as the country came out of lockdown.

East Sussex County Council, who were provided the central funding, installed five cycle racks in Hastings, including one on the seafront and the one on Beaufort Road.

However, Hastings councillors for the Silverhill ward – councillor Margi O’Callaghan and councillor Nigel Sinden – opposed the new bike rack, claiming no cyclists would stop at this point. They were also joined by East Sussex County councillor Godfrey Daniel who opposed the Beaufort Road location.

Councillor Sinden said: “If anyone using the proposed route was on their way to the town they would not be stopping at this point. So why has it been put here? It would have been more use at the bottom of the park or on the seafront where people will get off their bikes to walk around.

“The bike rack has only been in place a few days and already both councillors to Silverhill Ward have been asked if it can be removed and a bench seat added in its place. There are works needed to the pavements in the area on which the monies spent on this could have been better used. We now wait to see a cycle using this installation.”

The county council said the bike racks were installed following consultation with Hastings Borough Council and local cycle groups.

A spokesman said two more bike racks are due to be installed next year, on top of the five already placed this year.

Councillor O’Callaghan added: “I believe that it is important to promote cycling and walking within the town. However the county council have not really thought about this and they could have blended the bike rack better with the area. I feel that they make decisions remotely based in Lewes and do not consider blending this well with the surroundings or the community.

“I believe the bike rack could have been put in a more useful place, they could have fitted it in better with the surroundings. They could have consulted the community, local businesses and cyclists before deciding on where to put the rack and also could have picked a nicer and more blended designs.”

In response, an East Sussex County Council spokesman said: “In the summer we were asked by central Government, as part of its Emergency Active Travel Fund, to identify schemes to support walking and cycling as the country prepared to come out of lockdown. The funding given to East Sussex County Council could only be used on projects that supported active travel. As part of that work, cycle racks were installed in locations across the county.

“In consultation with the borough council and local cycle groups, we have installed a total of five cycle racks in Hastings with two more due to be in place in the New Year. These include a rack on Hastings seafront at The Stade and one on Beaufort Road to support those using Silverhill shops.

“There are no plans to relocate cycle racks, which underwent design work and safety reviews before being installed.”