The Llandudno cycling path debate is far from over

Nov 12 2009

THE picture M Pritchard paints regarding the cycle path is very dark indeed, and bears little relation to the facts in the case.

He calls Mr Spilsbury’s eloquent letter a tirade, whilst he himself rambles on and on about the ratepayers having to pay "thousands of pounds" for the upkeep of present cycle paths.

"Massive amounts" should be spent on children etc, and pray do tell, what on earth is a "Novelty Rider"?

Having begun his crusade some years ago in the first instance, to stop cyclists using Gloddaeth Avenue, he quickly switched his tack to the promenade, canvassing the signatures of elderly day-trippers, telling tales of hordes of mad cyclists descending upon them like Genghis Khan’s army.

I remember at the time smiling that such antics he got up to would be laughed at and treated as eccentric behaviour.

How wrong I was. The man has turned himself into Don Quixote and now focuses his attention to windmills in the sea, having convinced councillors that cycling is bad.

One councillor was delighted the flower beds would remain unharmed, while another was pleased that the whole sorry mess had reached conclusion.

Neither of the above mentioned, I’ll wager, have a bicycle, nor do they know anyone who has, nor are they familiar with Conway Road. How could they be?

Only a lunatic would send children on such a busy road on a bike.

There again, they have gone along with loony ideas so far. So who’s to say?

Luckily we live in a democracy and as such, laws were passed in the past, but if the public deed such laws unjust or unworkable, a repeal is not unknown to occur.

So my advice to Pritchard is to put his champagne on ice and not to drink too deep just yet.

Terry Douglas

Llandudno