Not a Plan for Walkers or Cyclists
ANNA SABIN, Hastings Urban Bikes
Where are the walking, cycling and bus networks? Not in the Local Plan and certainly not on the ground.
For the residents of our newer housing estates, a trip to their town, Hastings or St Leonards, is a three-mile journey and there should not be only one convenient way – by self-owned car – to make it. Were they to walk instead, it would be on muddy paths or alongside traffic with little protection when they cross busy roads. Were they to cycle it would be an insanely dangerous ride in amongst traffic. Were they to take the bus they’d wait at an inhospitable bus stop for an infrequent bus on a long-winded, circuitous route, and if none of that were possible, they could take a £30 round trip in a cab.
People are being forced to buy their own car – which costs them a fortune whether they can afford it or not – or are simply denied access to town life, including education, employment and training.
It’s not just unjust, it ruins tourism and the independence of children: every additional private car adds to the town’s parking battle and makes it harder to get about any other way.
The cost-of-living burden won’t be alleviated and Pride in Place investments won’t help most people unless walking, cycling and catching the bus is made easier, nicer and more efficient.
If Hastings can’t say this is what it wants, needs and is aiming for in its Local Plan, who else is going to care?
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