Promenade cycling ban 'will be staying in place'

COUNCIL STICKING TO ITS GUNS OVER RESTRICTIONS

- By STUART ARNOLD Local democracy reporter

A BAN on cyclists riding along Saltburn’s Lower Promenade is here to stay, a council says, after its policy and use of signs were criticised.

Redcar and Cleveland Council prohibits cyclists from using the Lower Promenade between 10am and 5.30pm between Good Friday and October 31 in order to protect the safety of pedestrians.

Keen cyclist Philip Chisholm said 'no cycling' signs should be removed and replaced with 'cyclists dismount' signs.

Mr Chisholm claimed the local authority did not have the authority to enforce no cycling restrictions since the Lower Promenade was unadopted and also suggested there had been no accidents to speak of. The council said it was the landowner and allowed cyclists access to the Lower Promenade at its “sole discretion”.

It also said it was exercising powers using a public space protection order which can impose restrictions on users of any public space, whether adopted highway or not, and in this case they would remain “strictly in place”.

The matter is further complicated by the fact that the Lower Promenade has until recently long formed part of the National Cycle Network 1 (NCN1) route managed by the charity Sustrans.

The council has indicated its desire to change the route so it passes along Milton Street, avoiding the Lower Promenade and Saltburn Bank, which is deemed to be dangerous for young cyclists, although any upgrade would be subject to funding.