THERE has been a lot in the Argus recently about cycle lanes and closing Madeira Drive to Motorised traffic.

Many people are getting on the bandwagon but be careful for what you are doing.

I am for closing certain roads to traffic and making them for pedestrian walkways. For some roads that makes no sense.

Should the city council close Madeira Drive, what would be the consequences?

Let’s start with money. The council enjoys a rich harvest of money from the parking and there are a lot of spaces on Madeira Drive, as well as being expensive to park there,

Where would coaches go to unload the day trippers who visit the city during the summer — and of course bring a lot of money to the City.

Each year we have less and less visitors as people these days go to Spain and other countries for the sun. We don’t want to lose any more. Our visitors like to be dropped off on the seafront. One Sunday during the 1960’s Brighton had 652 coaches come to Brighton on a Sunday during July. Multiply that by a full coach. That is a lot of day visitors.

Closing Madeira Drive will make ‘snarl-ups’ on Marine Parade. Mind, on the other hand it would make a nice wide road for the cyclists, maybe a world record for the widest cycle lane in the world maybe? If the shutdown for cars was extended westwards and so included King's Road, then it could take the cycle lane off the seafront pavement and get rid of ‘Suicide Alley’.

Who ever came up with the idea of a cycle lane on the busiest pavement should be certified. It has caused so many accidents for pedestrians and cyclists alike.

The last straw for me was when a child was knocked down by a fast moving cyclist.

The child was four or maybe five and ran across the cyclist's path. The little girl was a visitor to the then town. She had to be taken to the hospital. An absolute crazy idea to amalgamate a very busy pedestrian walkway with a cycle track.

Don’t close Madeira Drive to traffic, it will be a big mistake. I feel quite passionate about this.

David Rowland

Harvest Close

Telscombe Cliffs