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Please
Stay Away From Shirley Hills
Important
communique from London Borough of Croydon.
CROYDON COUNCIL
E-mail
shaun_kiddell@croydon.gov.uk
Mr
Marco Framboli
Addiscombe Cycle Club
Date
:13.11.00
Dear
Mr
Framboli
Addington
Hills- Cycling
I
am writing to seek your help regarding the promotion of Addington Hills (Shirley
Hills) as a place for off road cycling on the Addiscombe Cycling Club and
Mountain Trail Bike Review web sites.
Cycling
is not permitted in Croydon’s parks and open spaces under the byelaws
(currently being reviewed), although, the Council does not enforce this byelaw
as long as cyclists are acting sensibly and not damaging the parks.
However,
Addington Hills is an extremely fragile environment and is identified as being
of major importance by many leading ecology groups and national organisations,
mainly due to the rare heather on thin soils.
I
am very concerned at the use and promotion of Addington Hills as a cycle
destination, as the site is being damaged by digging and moving of soil as well
as the web sites encouraging more cyclists to ride on the Hills.
The
Council is keen to promote the use of cycles as an environmentally form of
transport and to encourage good health and exercise. The Council receives much
pressure to provide safe areas for cycling away from the public highways. Parks
are an obvious place for this, which is why we are reviewing the current
byelaws.
The
Council has a designated cycle officer and has recently constructed a cycle
teaching area in Sanderstead Recreation Ground as the Council receives many
requests from parents to provide for a place away from the highway to teach
children how to cycle.
I
appreciate conflict with other park users is rare and most users act
responsibly. However, I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to
discuss how we could overcome the concerns raised in this letter. I can be
contacted on the telephone number at the top of the this page and look forward
to being able to meet.
Yours
sincerely
Shaun
Kiddell
Parks
Development and Technical Manager
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