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Bicycle parking at Sidmouth Swimming Pool

  • by JW

The Sidmouth Cycling Campaign has objected to the planning application, as this is contrary to EDDC’s own policy of improving facilities for cyclists.

“Have they thought about that’s where the booths go for Folk Festival ticket sales?” [Sidmouth Cycling Campaign]

“The utilitarian block like building, would obscure and spoil… key facilities and requirements for visitors to Sidmouth and would result in congestion in this busy and already restricted area.” [Sidmouth Town Council]

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The Sidmouth Cycling Campaign has recently sent out a press statement about parking for bikes in Sidmouth:

Sidmouth Cycling Campaign are pushing for more cycle parking in the town, which was one of the key responses to the questionnaire they circulated in 2022. Lidl recently installed two new cycle stands at their store in Woolbrook, at the suggestion of the campaign.

Meanwhile, East Devon District Council (EDDC) are proposing to remove 10 well used parking spaces for bikes at the swimming pool to make way for new toilets (see photo). The Campaign has objected, as this is contrary to EDDCs own policy of improving facilities for cyclists.

Last November, it was indeed announced that a new toilet block could be built by Sidmouth Swimming Pool. And the Town Council also strongly objected to the application. PL.-MINS.-201223-1.pdf 

Members considered that the location and design was unacceptable and incongruous and the number of units was completely unacceptable. The utilitarian block like building, would obscure and spoil the visibility and view of the Tourist Information Centre and Swimming Pool, key facilities and requirements for visitors to Sidmouth and would result in congestion in this busy and already restricted area.

Here is the full page from the District Council planning site: 23/2537/FUL | Erection of a new public toilet building. | Sidmouth Swimming Pool Ham Lane Sidmouth EX10 8XR

Since it was first proposed, there has been a revised planning application for the Swimming Pool toilets:

As the Sidmouth Cycle Campaign notes:

They’ve increased the cycle parking to match the existing, although they still appear not to be Sheffield Stands.

The Bicycle Association recommends a Cycle Parking Standard which are:

  • Easy to use (including consideration of disabled people and inclusion generally)
  • Safe (for users and their cycles)
  • Secure (enabling secure locking)
  • Long lasting (corrosion resistant etc.) and
  • Fully in compliance with UK legal requirements.

As the company Cyclehoop reminds us, the Sheffield Stand is really what is required as the standard:

A classic British design, the Sheffield Stand is a secure parking solution for standard and non-standard cycles, including cargo bikes and trikes. The stand is sturdy and streamlined it is constructed of thick stainless or galvanised steel tubing, bent into the shape of a square arch. Allowing people to lock the frame, front and rear wheel of a bike, safeguarding it against theft.

Moreover, in another comment, the Sidmouth Cycling Campaign asks about the (non-Sheffield) cycle stands proposed for the Swimming Pool area – to be positioned in the far corner

Have they thought about that’s where the booths go for Folk Festival ticket sales?

Or, to quote the Town Council’s planning committee again: 

The utilitarian block like building, would obscure and spoil… key facilities and requirements for visitors to Sidmouth and would result in congestion in this busy and already restricted area.