Round-up: Cycling at Llandudno and Penmaenmawr

Dec 3 2009

IN the recent Llandudno Town Council debate, Cllr Phillip Evans has again persuaded his fellow councillors to the ridiculous view that cyclists pose a mortal threat to the promenade and all who currently use it.

A Town and County Borough councillor, Justice of the Peace, Freeman of Llandudno, and an influential Conwy Cabinet member to boot, Cllr Evans is a mover and shaker if ever there was one.

However it seems not for him the local authority’s assurances to the coroner's inquiry into the deaths of the four Rhyl cyclists three years ago, that road safety lessons had been learned.

Does he and his colleagues need to wait until residents in the magnificent North Shore hotels have a grandstand view of some unfortunate cyclist, perhaps a child, mangled by a motor vehicle on the Parade below?

As Llandudno businesses tumble like nine pins, what price has that sort of publicity if the cyclist happens to be staying in one of the guest houses radial to Prince Edward’s Square?

The barring of North Shore to other than the most experienced cyclists is neither morally nor pragmatically sustainable. The offer of an alternative "cycle route sweetener" around the town perimeter makes no sense.

It does not lie on any recognised cycling journey desire-line, and into the foreseeable future would not deliver on investment unless first the top-priority North Shore with its vast and invariably sparsely used promenade is tackled.

Thereafter a straight forward designated cycle route to West Shore via Gloddaeth Avenue becomes perfectly feasible and acceptable.

Public office is diminished when good people doing socially responsible things - such as cycling, are officially discriminated against - not least by those who remain silent in council and fail to either move or shake to challenge prejudice and injustice. Or is the truth that Cllr Evans and his supporters see more juicy pickings in wheelchairs than bicycles? If so, they are very much mistaken. The community will not tolerate paying the price for such short sighted governance.

Roy Spilsbury

CTC Cymru

- Welsh region of the 60,000 member national cycling organisation

Editor www.cyclingnorthwales.co.uk

IN response to Mr Spilsbury’s recent letter, is it not time for him to accept that he has already cost Conwy council ratepayers and the Welsh Assembly Government massive amounts of money, on these unused cycle tracks, which would have been far better spent on more worthwhile projects?

The ongoing debacle on the West Shore is a prime example that is costing the ratepayers thousands of pounds each year on the never-ending attempts to clear the sand off the ill-conceived route across the West Shore sand hills.

The latest experiment of getting contractors to erect wicker fences to contain the sand has failed miserably and the latest brain wave from Highways in Llanfairfechan is to ship the sand across to the Conwy Morfa beach at further continuing cost to the ratepayers. No doubt to return on the next westerly wind across the estuary.

Is it not surprising that our councillors have finally seen the folly of these expensive and high maintenance projects and have chosen the needs of our town residents and school children over the novelty riders who want to spoil our lovely promenades.

Mike Pritchard

Save our Promenade Campaign

CAN you imagine the chuckles and "hear hear" in council chambers at the suggestion that cyclists should carry their bikes along the prom at Penmaenmawr?

Cllr Stevens stated the prom was for everybody. Isn’t he kind?

May I make a suggestion for his consideration. Why stop at bike carrying? Why not build a glass-fronted extension to the cafe, solely for councillors to sit in, and around their necks hang a horse-harness and they can gurn at the cyclists, and maybe each cyclist should be forced to have pebbles placed in his or her shoes before they tote their bike.

What about chucking wet sponges, or bashing them over the head with wet towels. For the very young cyclists there could be towel flicking to make them jump.

We could have a no bike week, whereby if a councillor spotted a bike he could bung a spoke in the back wheel and shout "No bike", and we could pay him so much a stick to add to his expenses.

The ideas are endless and I suggest a prize for the next loony councillor who puts forward similar statements to even better Steven’s.

Terry Douglas

Llandudno