Salisbury Journal 14/11/2013
Police urge residents to lobby MPs over large cycling events
Police urge
residents to lobby MPs over large cycling events
CYCLISTS taking part in large-scale events have been accused of “using the forest as a urinal”.
At a public meeting held in Fordingbridge on Tuesday night Sgt Paul Towler urged people to write to their MPs to put pressure on the Government to review the legislation surrounding large cycling events in areas such as the New Forest.
District and village councillor Ann Sevier told the Fordingbridge Parish Council's police liaison meeting, which was also attended by Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes: “The forest is being used as a urinal and there is swearing and shouting during these events. It wouldn't be allowed to happen in a town.”
Sgt Towler told the 30-strong audience of councillors from across the Forest, landowners and residents that the events are legal, as they are not timed trials or races.
But he said the Government was due to review the legislation surrounding big cycling events.
He added: “Police are looking at deploying tactics to minimise these issues, but I would urge anyone concerned to write to their MP to try to bring about a change in legislation sooner rather than later.”
Other policing matters in the New Forest came under the spotlight after Mr Hayes told the audience that further harsh cuts to the county's police budget would be made next year, reducing the £310m budget by £25m.
But he assured the meeting that the Hampshire Force was “well run” and the money would be found through the new estates strategy, which was launched in the summer.
He said: “Keeping residents in the county safe is my priority.
“Getting rid of back office buildings, but keeping assets and investing in new facilities and IT technology will help make Hampshire and the Isle of Wight safer places.”
Fordingbridge Police Station is due to close in March 2014, but he hoped officers would be moving to new premises in Provost Street.
Whitsbury parish councillor Sara Locock said: “I understand that these new premises cannot be manned every day, but I think they should be manned at least once a week so people know they can go into it. The public are paying for it.
“The police are there to serve the public. The public are not there to serve the police.”
Mr Hayes said: “We are trying to develop that into the estates strategy so the public can do business in the offices. We are trying to find a way for that to happen.”
From the Salisbury Journal 14 November 2013
-----Original Message-----
From: grahamonbike@gmail.com on behalf of graham rogersSent: Fri 15/11/2013 08:47
To: Cllr Ann Sevier
Subject: Cycling in the New Forest
Dear Councillor Ann Sevier,
I have just read a report in the Salisbury Journal about a public meeting
in Fordingbridge Town Hall last Tuesday, which suggests that you accused
cyclists of urinating in the Forest & shouting & swearing. If you do
believe this to be a problem, I would like to know what evidence this is
based on.
As you will know there have been incidents of dangerous attacks on cycling
events. As a cyclist I have recently been the target of unprovoked and
dangerous 'road rage' incidents against me, which I can only assume was
because I was riding a bicycle. Such silly anti cycling rants and reports
in newspapers help to justify those who abuse cyclists.
Cyclists have as much right to use the Forest as any other group and as a
National Park, we should surely be welcoming cyclists and cycling events to
enjoy the Forest in such a healthy manner.
I would be interested to hear the evidence for your claims and reasons for
your opposition to cycling in the Forest.
Many thanks,
Graham Rogers - Fordingbridge
-----
On 15 November 2013 10:38, Cllr Ann Sevier <Ann.Sevier@newforest.gov.uk> wrote:
Dear Mr Rogers - my statement and others are now with the police. This anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.
BUT - I cycled when young and enjoyed myself - I live on the route most holiday makers coming out of Sandy Balls use and I like to see the families out on the roads - enjoying the recreational aspects of the Forest - taking in the country views and the animals. I sit on the Access Forum (statutory body for the NPA) where I and others would like cycling for families and people out for a quiet cycle ride.
The New Forest is a shared space - for walkers, cyclists, horse riders, trap drivers and most importantly the commoners animals - it is one big farm you are recreating in. I have on a number of occasions rescued cyclists with flat tyres and lost.
The newspaper as they do picked up on one aspect of what I said - where I asked for better policing and management of these large events - sending 3000 cyclists on the narrow roads is not safe for anyone. Did you know at the last sportive - at Godshill Village Hall - the cyclists did not wait to use the loo but defecated in the car park for the lady cleaner to clean up. The cyclists cause the animals on the road to spook - galloping cattle is not sensible - they have sworn at me and other people and personal ridden out in front of me causing me to do an emergency stop on a number of occasions - because I was a female - something that the cyclists found hilarious.
I as a parish and district councilor get many many 'ear bashing's' on this issue -- therefore - I have to speak up and ask for better management of these events - to do this I have to highlight the issues. If this anti-social behaviour occurred in a town it would be dealt with and it must be dealt because it effects not just the local residents - but other visitors to the Forest. The reputation of the Forest is vital.
If you know of some way to get the message across to both parties - I know they are working on a charter at the NPA - examples - I always slow for animals and cyclists. How do you explain to a head down cyclist that if the car in front of you slows down for animals - that you as a cyclist do not then speed past the car and through the animals. Or last sunday there was a family cycling with small children across Hyde Common - who I gave plenty of room too and slowed - lucky I did because the speeding cyclist coming up (which I had overtaken further back) behind them sped passed them as I was passing causing them to have to go off the road.
I don't know the answer but we must do something for all parties - it is a SHARED SPACE. I don't know the answer - but dialogue of the last two years so far seems to fail. What do we do!
ANN
----
Thank you for your swift response to my email.
I was not at the meeting at Fordingbridge, where you made your comments about cyclists, but I assume that you knew the newspaper was there and that it would select your lurid anecdotes for its headlines. You mention several acts of anti social behaviour by cyclists, which I, along with the vast majority of cyclists do not condone. I could match your anecdotes with far more anti-social and dangerous acts against cyclists by motorists; or the farm tractor driver who, a few weeks ago at South Gorley, was apparently annoyed by me having stopped for a group of horses, accelerated past me and the horses along the grass verge blowing his horn and spooking the horses!
I believe, that anecdotes, like statistics, can be used to support any position and in the end prove nothing but that all walks of life have their idiots.
As a local politician I am sure you would want to promote the sensible and safe use of the New Forest by all users of the National Park, demonising one group, helps justify the anti social behaviour of others and exacerbates the situation.
Large cycling events need to be organised properly and the organisers persuaded of this fact, which I am sure you and your colleagues are doing. What possible help is it to fill newspapers with headlines, which paint all cyclist with the same brush?
Many thanks
Graham Rogers - Fordingbridge
