Councillors say no to cycle way next to children's play area in Bideford's Victoria Park

Fears that children and cyclists don’t mix has put the brakes on a new plan to encourage off-road cycling in Bideford.

Torridge District councillors were divided over the proposal to dedicate an existing path through Victoria Park as a cycle route at their community and resources committee this week, leading to claims that some members are 'anti-cyclists' and others 'too precious about the nanny state'.

The council is trying to establish a cycling and walking network through the district and has set up a special ‘active travel’ working group to look into ways of promoting alternatives to the car.

Community engagement officer Adrian Avery claimed a cycle route through the park would improve health and wellbeing and would be suitable for young people to learn and develop their skills without mixing with vehicles. It would also form part of a link from Bideford Quay towards Northam/Westward Ho! and help reduce congestion.

The cost would be provided through the Rural Prosperity Fund.

But the route running close to where children play concerned some councillors who said that there was already a cycle route to Bideford Quay through Bank End car park and Riverbank House offices, even though officers felt this had a higher potential for conflicts or injuries.

Cllr Chris Leather (Ind, Northam) said it was one of the most 'cockamamie ideas' he had seen from the council in a long time: “I couldn’t believe it when I read this report. Why create a problem when one doesn’t exist?

“The path would go past the bowling club where they are lots of elderly people and straight past the paddling pool where there are children and people picnicking. It’s absolutely ludicrous when there is direct route which cyclists already use and will probably continue to whether we put this here or not.”

Cllr Jane Whittaker (Con, Northam) said it was a great idea, but doesn’t agree with its location, she said: “What happens on the Tarka Trail is that sometimes they [cyclists] don’t consider anyone else so it really does bother me the path being next to the paddling pool.”

Ken James said he couldn’t think of anything worse and that in his ward at Bridgerule, there is a problem as cyclists come past the school 'hell for leather'.

“I was in the park the other day and four children had to step out the way for a cyclist. Is that how it’s going to be, priority for cyclists? I can’t support this.”

Cllr Lyndon Piper (Lib Dem, Holsworthy), lead member for leisure and a keen cyclist, said: “As a society we really do need to think about travel. Cars are causing us all sorts of problems so to say there is a situation without any problems is a bit blinded.

“We need to think about getting safe travel routes in our area. There is a bit of hyperbole in our society about cyclists at the moment. Some of the comments about cyclists being near children in the park, it’s as if we are talking about bringing machine guns in the park.”

He said people went on autopilot sometimes and just got in their cars when they could cycle and find out just how good it could be for their health and for their pocket and it was often quicker. He said he found it relaxing going off road where you had to consider people not cars.

“People here seem quite anti this project which I find disappointing,” he said.

Cllr Anna Dart (Ind, Hartland) said members were 'overthinking it' and being 'really precious about this nanny state we are living in where people can’t think for themselves or hear for themselves'.

“I don’t see too much of a problem with this. I find it bizarre that we are talking about it. It’s a life-skill, looking after yourself. We have all got to learn it. Whether you are old or young, you take your life into your hands when you walk out the door.”

When it was suggested that the proposal went out to public consultation about the exact route, Cllr Dart urged members not to waste the council’s limited resources on it.

Members voted against the plan by five votes to four with one abstention.