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Bike rack Parish council calls in police to oversee bike rack installation amid protest fears
A parish council was forced to call in police officers to oversee the installation of a new bike rack amid fears protesters could disrupt the work.
Residents have branded the police presence in Ripe on Monday as ‘ludicrous’ - but the council insist the approach was necessary following threats - and an earlier attempt to install the posts which had to be aborted.
The posts have been put up to ‘support cycling and provide a safe space where bikes can be secured’, Chalvington with Ripe Parish Council said.
But incredibly, the innocuous project has proven hugely controversial, with some villagers vehemently opposed to the scheme, the Sussex Express reports.
Richard Austin, who has lived in the village for around 23 years, said residents did not want the bike racks to be installed.
He accused Chalvington and Ripe Parish Council of being a ‘dictatorship’ which was not listening to local people.
The parish council said it anticipated problems at this week’s installation after an earlier attempt to put the posts up had to be aborted.
In a statement, the council said: “The police were in attendance during the installation of the bike posts.
“They were requested as threats were received to disrupt the planned installation. These threats were made at the parish council meeting held on 19th July 2021.
“The proceedings had to be suspended at one point when the clerk and several councillors were intimidated, abused and threatened.
“The installation had already been disrupted by anti-cyclists on June 1. The contractors arrived to find vehicles parked in the off-road area where the bicycle posts were to be located.
“The owners refused to move them. The parish council now faces a claim from the contractors for ‘lost time’. The contractors returned and with a police presence were able to carry out the work on July 26.
“The view of the parish council remains that, following a community-wide consultation process, a lawful decision was made to spend part of the Community Infrastructure Fund grant on the bike post project.
“Ripe and Chalvington Parish Council are committed to improving the local environment. They support cycling and want to provide a safe space where bicycles can be secured.
“It is regrettable that a few residents disagree with this decision. However the threats and abuse from a few residents ignore the majority view of the parish. Further projects are at a design stage and will be implemented once agreed by the parish council.”
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37 comments
Someone needs to make clear a compromise to the residents: If cyclists aren't allowed bike racks, then the residents aren't allowed car parking facilities either. Fucking entitlement of a massive level right there.
Nobody seems to have pointed out that no proper cyclist/ cyclist with a proper bike/ cyclist in his right mind would use a bike 'rack' like that.
That seems to be a generic photo, not the actual racks in question, but yes, no-one in their right mind would use those.
I think we need some more context here....
The article states four bike posts to be installed but no description. They may have been sponsored or branded such that they caused the residents offence, by certain fast food companies or an arms manufacturer... we just don't know the full facts. So until then let's please remain neutral until more facts are established.
Then again the complainers might just be the "I pay road tax... get orrf my road!" brigade.
What a joke.
"arms manufacturer" umm....ok
How many arms manufacturer adverts have you seen anywhere ?
Plus planning permission would be needed.
Coming to a parish near you
Do adverts for arms manufacturers subsidiaries count? If so, that includes Giro, Camelbak etc. as they're owned by Vista Outdoor.
A firearms certificate at the very least I'd have thought...
You wouldn't get a firearms certificate for that in the UK, though you would in the US.
Okay, done a quick duckduckgo to find this: https://www.chalvingtonwithripeparishcouncil.co.uk/community/chalvington-with-ripe-parish-council-19894/news/bike-posts-48141
That's got a picture of the installation and it looks innocuous to my eyes.
I don't know what all the fuss is over the world about dictatorships if all they do is go round and install somewhere for people to lock their bikes up - is that what Mussolini was all about?
How do you lock you bike up to that ??
Also they are institutionally anti car
10.1-Traffic calming - A Councillor previously circulated two reports which were discussed. A proposal was given to implement and support a community speed watch group.
Chain goes through the holes?
Wot if you have a D lock ? Could be tricky
The U-bit would probably go through one of the holes, but yes, they're not the best bike locking facilites that I've seen though not the worst, neither.
Might not be finished either. Putting the posts in ground is probably the bit needing machinery. Then bars might be attached to the wooden parts via those holes which might be a later visit.
I think you have the nub of the matter there, H. The protest is about how useless these particular facilities are. The protesters are demanding properly designed, fit for purpose facilities....
Reading through the minutes it mentions the amount of money spent by cycle groups in the local shop.
Bloody cyclists coming here and buying our cakes !
Look at all those 'ooligans!
Absolutley shocking! Holligans pulling wheelies, riding on the wrong side of tnhe road, syatight through red lights. Stay in your cities, these are local roads for local people
Simple solution. All cyclists bypass the village. Then the local shops will feel it. Average coffee stop value £5. Group of e4 equates to £20. Let's say 10 groups on a good day £200. That's £1400 a week. Don't think the locals could provide that revenue!
I remember years ago on a group ride we descended on a local cafe for a late breakfast.after a ride There were twenty of us and the bill came to about 300 quid as they had been so accommodating. The owner commented that it was cyclists who kept them going out of season
I don't think the shop or the parish council want that ! Looking at the pics/links posted, it would seem the bike stands are 20m or so away from the shop so they clearly want to attract cyclists.
It would be better if the shop said 'cyclists bring in X a week so locals will have to make that up or we will close and you will lose the shop'.
I agree. It's a pretty extreme response and the Village Shop needs to weigh in and highlight the revenue that's brought in by passing cyclists and the need for facilities to leave their bikes rather than proped up against a wall. I just found a street view image and there's at least 9 cyclists in the square with 3 camped up outside the shop. Ripe is obviously part of a loop for cyclists in the region.
Glad I wasn't riding behind your group after your breakfast break, then!
Nah, no need for bikes when the trains are always on time....
A much misunderstood man and a leader in veganism; he made the trains run on thyme.
Ah - that explains why he was best mates with that well known vegetarian Adolf.
Innocuous?! They clearly interfere with drivers' god-given right to drive and park wherever they like. No parish council with their anti-democratic "consultations" can take that right away. The world belongs to drivers.
Hmm I wonder which it could be....
I'm going to give you the benefit of doubt here and suggest that your tongue is firmly in cheek as I've not seen your other two posts. Until then. I'll reserve judgment.
.
I don't understand why they're so against an off-road bike rack. They're described as anti-cyclist, so is their only issue that it is to be used by cyclists or is there some other issue that's not reported?
I hope they arrange a couple of CCTV cameras to cover the area to track down any subsequent destruction of property.
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