A by-election is being held to elect a councillor to represent the Penhill ward of Lancing Parish Council.
Parish councils represent the most local level of democracy, making decisions on various matters that affect local neighbourhoods. Lancing, between Worthing and Shoreham, and home to a major secondary school, is somewhere that shouldn’t be overlooked on the journey towards better cycle infrastructure, and we support the parish council in any way they can work with district or county councils to achieve much-needed progress.
We asked the three candidates three questions, enabling them to share their positions on matters relating to transport in Lancing:
Our questions:
1. What are your thoughts on the three proposed cycle infrastructure proposals currently under consultation by WSCC?
2. What are your thoughts on LPC’s potential work with WSCC to consider changes to the Beach Green path near Perch, possibly to separate people on foot and on bike?
3. Any other thoughts around improvements that would make cycling easier and safer for short journeys around Lancing?
Here’s what the candidates told us:
Colin Pacifico
Labour Party
1. As a keen cyclist I already use the three proposed routes on a regular basis and making safer cycle routes is something I fully support, I look forward to seeing the results of the public consultation on these routes and how ideas and concerns might be addressed within the plans.
2. The current shared cycle path through Lancing beach green has generally been a great success but there are a couple of pinch points and one of those is at the Perch where pedestrian and cycle traffic at certain times converge with a large numbers of beach and park users. If elected I would be pressing LPC and WSCC to work closely with all the interested parties to ensure a diversity of views is heard.
3. Cycling is only to be encouraged being environmentally sustainable with great health benefits, designated cycle lanes is the way forward but it needs to be used by responsible cyclists with correctly equipped and maintained bikes sharing the roads and paths collaboratively with all, I often think Lancing needs a cycle shop and wouldn’t it be great if one was to appear on a cycle route
Maggie Rumble
Green Party
1. I support the new cycleways east-west and would like there to be consideration of further ones running north-south, ie the ‘rungs on a ladder’ model that’s been mentioned on here previously.
2. I would support segregated paths for bike and foot around the Perch area where it gets congested.
3. We need better enforcement of parking regulations, eg stopping cars parked halfway across junctions and shared use paths; cutting back overgrown vegetation alongside paths; making sure there are dropped kerbs where paths cross roads, eg on north side of A27; safe places to leave bikes locked up near shops. I would like consideration to be given to reducing speed limits on some of the roads through Lancing, possibly with speed bumps or chicanes where appropriate. Long term we could encourage a culture of ‘Lancing is a cycle friendly village’ to try to emphasize the positive aspects of cycling, ie more carrot , less stick.
Bob Smytherman
1. I fully support these proposals.
2. I fully support encouraging cyclists to enjoy Lancing’s fantastic seafront and connecting cycle & walking routes. I have always been a passionate advocate for the joining up of South Coast seafront route creating a safe space for cyclists , walkers & indeed our popular parkrun each week.
3. I think Lancing should push for 20mph zones around the village.
SHOREHAM-BY-CYCLE 