Alexandra Park: There May Be Trouble Ahead! 25th June...

Indeed, on Saturday the 25th of June there are 2 demonstrations planned in Alexandra Park, one opposing the plans to have a shared cycle/pedestrian route through Alexandra Park, and one opposing that view and supporting a shared cycle/pedestrian route through Alexandra Park... You couldn't make this up! I'll provide more information about the 2 sides opinions further down, under the next image, but those who support the shared cycle/pedestrian route, including the Hastings Greenway Network, are meeting by the bandstand in the park at 2.30pm, and those opposing the shared cycle/pedestrian route are meeting earlier from 2.00pm on the lawn by the Rangers' Office, it should be an interesting afternoon!

Proposed Route

The shared cycle/pedestrian route has already been approved by both East Sussex County Council and Hastings Borough Council, so support appears to be pretty much across party lines, similarly opposition, for example, although a Labour councillor, Godfrey Daniel opposes the scheme, believing that, as it stands, this proposal is potentially very dangerous for vulnerable people, children, people in wheelchairs, pushing prams, dog walkers, blind people and people with other disabilities, preferring a dedicated cycle lane in one of the roads that go up along both sides of the park. 

Views from both sides can be read at Sussex World and the Hastings Independent, no-one appears to not want a cycle path, the debate is whether it should go through Alexandra Park or not. Petitions from both sides have amassed support, 256 signatures supporting the cycle route and 468 people opposing, and campaigners continue to seek support. Hastings Greenway Project (petition) and a petition opposed to the cycle route @ petition. 

In addition, Make Alexandra Park Hastings safe (facebook page) are campaigning to ensure the safety of visitors to the park, and have their own petition live at the moment.

Those readers who have followed my blog over the years will already start thinking I'd be against the idea of a shared path through the park, although I am in no way against cyclists having as safe cycle paths as possible, but an irresponsible minority of cyclists let down the responsible majority. They already ignore cycle paths provided and endanger other pathway users on routes they shouldn't follow, so what is to stop them using any path they like in Alexandra Park once cycling in there? I have no faith in that minority, and who is going to 'police' it? We regularly see cyclists, and people on those electric scooters, on pavements even when cycle paths are provided! So yes, I'm fed up with dodging cyclists on footpaths and am opposed to the idea, I support a dedicated cycle lane in one of the roads that go up along both sides of the park! 👍

An interesting couple of videos, one on YouTube that obviously took some work to produce showing the proposed shared cycle/pedestrian route through the park, both up and down, and the other on dailymotion showing the recent protest against the shared cycle/pedestrian route through the park. Saturday should be interesting indeed!

A previous blog about Alexandra Park if you're interested! 😉