Extraordinary General Meeting of Cycle Seahaven

25 November 2009

Contributing to the future of cycling in Seahaven.

Following a meeting with Rupert Clubb, Director of Transport and Environment for East Sussex County Council, Cycle Seahaven was been invited to contribute to the latest review of the ESCC Local Transport, known as LPT3. You can read the latest LTP3 newsletter here.

This is a great opportunity to highlight the difficulties faced by cyclists in the Seahaven area and discuss our proposals for improvements with the policy makers. Cycling is one of the best responses to the need to cut our carbon footprints and policies to encourage and assist cyclists should be an important part of any forward-looking transport plan.

So that we could gather input from as many members and non-members as possible we called an Extraordinary General Meeting, the minutes of which are presented below (or you can download them here)

Cycle Seahaven Extraordinary General Meeting.

 Held 25^th November, 2009, starting at 8.0 pm and finishing at approximately 11.00 pm, in the Wellington Public House.

 Attendance:   Andy Lock, Chair;  Alan Cook, East Sussex County Council’s Highways and Transportation Department;  David Hester - Lock, Treasurer;  Denis Bass, Committee member;   Sue Turner, Committee member; Eddie Collict, Committee member;  four ordinary members plus one member of the public.

 Apologies:   Ian Cairns, Web Site Manager;   Clive Aberdour, Secretary;   Rod Lambert, Treasurer.

 Opening the meeting

 Andy opened the meeting, and after introducing everybody, explained the reason for calling the meeting.

 Rupert Clubb, Director of Transport and Environment at East Sussex County Council, had visited Seaford recently and met representatives of Cycle Seahaven.   Rupert Clubb invited Cycle Seahaven to help develop a short, medium and long term vision for Seaford for possible inclusion in the local transport plan.  As this task is important the meeting was open to non members.

 The aim of the meeting was to compile a list of cycling issues in and around Seaford, and for this list of issues to be presented at discussed at a meeting with East Sussex County Council on 11^th December. 

 The issues were then discussed in the order in which they were set out in the agenda.

 Issues discussed

 1  Seaford is an Island.  Broad agreement with this statement. 

 1a   C7 There is a need for a cycle route along the C7; it should be an all weather track.   Alan explained that when this route was considered previously,  the Environment Agency had some objections.   There was a plan that linked the various villages along the C7 and there is considerable public support for such a scheme.  Sustrans would be very supportive, but there is no money available at the moment.  Alan will send a copy of the plan to Andy.

 1b   Complete the seafront route.   The problems with the current situation were explored and Alan explained the current situation.  The land by the railway bridge has recently been acquired by two new owners and East Sussex is now negotiation possible terms.  There are technical problems which will be relatively expensive to undertake, and again there is no money currently available.  Several options for the remainder of the route have been considered, but again there is no money to implement them.   Several members expressed the view that the cheapest and simplest would be to carry the cycle route straight along the promenade to the beach huts.   Whilst  all at the meeting realised that this would be highly controversial, many felt it is the only sensible option in the long run.

 1c   Safe route to Friston Forest.  Attention focused upon two possible options, one on the south side of the A259 through the National Trust land to the Golden Galleon and the other on the north side of the road on land farmed by Dymock Farm.  Alan said that this section of the route was included in a review being undertaken by East Sussex County Council of the whole of the route from Seaford Town Centre to Exceat.   It appears that Chris Bocock, of Sustrans has been looking at the route and Andy undertook to contact him and pass on any information about progress to Alan.    Denis undertook to informally speak to those farming Dymock Farm about a possible route and let Andy and Alan know the outcome.

 1d   Safe route along road to Alfriston.  The general feeling was that if we can get a safer route to Friston Forest than this would enable cyclists to bypass the section of road that is perceived as the most dangerous.

 2      Cycles on trains

 This is not an aspect that East Sussex County Council has direct influence upon so it was agreed that we would continue to raise our concerns when the opportunity arises with the train operating companies.

 3       Shared access to the promenade

 This was a continuation of the discussion under 1b above.  The feeling was that a line to separate pedestrians and cyclists, as used elsewhere in the UK, was the simplest, least expensive, and the most likely to be used.

 4      Cycling provision for development proposals.

 There are two aspects.   First there is the need to ensure that new developments have facilities for cyclists built within them, and secondly the negotiating of Section 106 money to improve cycle access to and from the development.   

 East Sussex County Council has a developers’ guideline on road and cycle design.   What Cycle Seahaven need to do is put forward ideas and suggestions when planning applications arise as to how cycling in the area could be improved.   It was agreed that as a temporary measure Eddie will notify Andy and the Committee of any planning application that will attract developers’ contributions if approved.    Andy will arrange to respond on behalf of the Committee to Seaford Town Council, Lewes District Council and Alan Cook at East Sussex County Council.

  5    Round Seaford cycle route

 The meeting agreed that this is a good idea.   Andy requested Eddie to supply him with contact details of Peter Sinclair who originally suggested this project.

 6   Cycle access to the town centre

 Alan said that the radial cycle routes should fit into the structure put forward by  Garry Wright of Amey, the Company who undertook a detailed survey to which Cycle Seahaven members had also contributed.

 7    Cycle lanes to be added to wide road

 This was agreed by those at the meeting.

 8     Completion of the Avenue Verte

 It was agreed that this is a priority as it links several individual problem areas, the route from Exeat, the completion of the seafront route and the bridge and Bishopstone, plus giving an alternative route north avoiding the road to Alfriston.

 9     Cycle routes to schools

 This was regarded as important.   It was agreed that we should contact school governors to see what they could achieve to reduce the anti social behaviour of drivers taking children to school, updating school travel plans, encouraging walking and cycling to school and seeking support from the transport authorities and police to enforce safe driving near schools and school routes.

10   Access tunnel from Surrey Road to Princess Drive.

 It was agreed that this must be a very low priority (but it may be worth requesting Section 106 money for if the opportunity arises).

 11    Other issues

 Need to slow vehicle speeds to reduce the severity of crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists.

 We need to improve the facilities that we have already.

 Need to press for improvements to the route from Newhaven to Peacehaven.  The official cycle route is not very direct and has some very rough sections, not suitable for road going cycles.   There is a possible alternative, the third lane on the north side of the A259 which is not used by motor vehicles.  

 More cycle stands and improved security at Seaford Railway Station.

 Contact Chamber of Commerce about providing more cycle stands.

 Need to cyclist warning sign where cycle path crosses the small road down to Tidemills.

 Improving the unofficial cycle route to Newhaven along the beach section of Tidemills and so create a circular ride between the two towns.

 Andy to contact Halfords as a major cycle distributor about lack of cycle parking facilities.

 12    Priorities

 1   Completion of Avenue Verte    (Including the route from Exceat, the seafront and Bishopstone bridge section of the route.)

 2   Safe routes to school.

 3    C7

 The Club will immediately start looking a development proposals as they arise to see what opportunities they offer.

 13   Next steps

 The decisions of this meeting will be posted on the web site and be used in discussion with representatives of East Sussex County Council at a meeting on 11^th December, 2009.

 14   Annual General Meeting

 Wednesday, 20^th January, starting at 8.00 pm in the Wellington Public House.