The Campaign Page
Loss of Secure Bike Park on Weston-super-Mare Seafront
“MAG's hard fought campaign (led by Ian Moore) at the beginning of this Millennium, secured only by a Demo, led to the installation of a secure bike park in 2003 on Weston-super-Mare sea front but now falls victim to miniature 'London Eye'."
Above - What we had - Sited adjacent to the Tourist Information, the secure Bike Park was purpose built and fulfilled all the essential criteria.
It was recently learned that Weston Council in their infinite wisdom decided to play with the traffic, which would require the bike park to be moved. The plans showed the replacement bike park to be smaller than the existing one with the work taking place sometime in 2010.
So we at Weston MAG were gearing ourselves up for another campaign, when we suddenly learned that the bike park had been closed!
On investigation we found that the park had been closed and to add insult to injury the council have allowed a burger stall to trade from within the closed bike park!
The Council took the decision to close this park, apparently without any consultation with MAG and, seemingly, without any consultation with anyone remotely connected to two wheels!
On any summers day the bike park is not only full, but overflowing onto the grass verges and pavement. The Council’s excuse for the closure was on public health and safety grounds for people using the Ferris wheel.
‘Temporary’ parking has been provided, however, it is considerably smaller, unsecure, and proving completely inadequate given the number of bikers entering Weston-super-Mare at the weekends.
Coupled with this, the Council has agreed to allow the erection of a climbing wall on land adjacent to the new parking, thus exposing the general public to the very same health and safety risks which prompted the closure of the existing bike park.
Above – What we got – Sited adjacent to a climbing wall, kids & pedestrians all over the place and uneven surfaces on which to park
We have corresponded with officials at North Somerset Council pointing out our total displeasure with their actions over the bike park issue, and we are about to enter into discussions.
It would help us greatly if bikers on visiting Weston would then write letters of complaint to North Somerset Council, as this would give us further ammunition when negotiating with the Council.
Like many Councils, it would appear that, once again, that which serves Weston requires educating. When will these people realise that when Bikers ride in they spend money just like anyone else and should be afforded a suitable, secure parking area.
George Legg & Steve Bradford
Bike Parking
Need to find Bike Parking? Then use our Bike Parking link in the side bar to find parking spaces around the country.
Bike Park Petition Download
Get all your Biker Mates to sign our petition, download and print the pdf doc, then when you've filled it in please return to; The Troll, 293 Stowey Rd, Yatton, North Somerset, BS49 4QT.
Bike Park Petition Petition Download pdf.
Bike Park Pictorial
See what we had and what we got!
Bike Park Pictorial Pictorial Download pdf.
