One of the joys of life is to walk, on a lovely summer's day, from Ovingdean to the café at Roedean along the grassy headland past the school and Brighton Marina, stopping occasionally to look at the odd wagtail or crow and then return along the lower promenade for a cup of tea at the café on the promenade at Ovingdean.

At least it used to be a joy to walk along the prom. It is now marred at intervals of about a minute or so by helmeted maniacs on bikes. Not for them the gentle trundle so beloved by lady novelists of the early and mid 20th century.

These sinewy limbed lycra-clad hurtlers are on a mission to get from Rottingdean to Roedean. To what purpose? And at what cost to the nervous health of strollers, admirers of the cliffs, toddlers, dogs and old ladies?

It is illegal to cycle along the prom. Which prompts the question: if cycling is prohibited, why isn't the prohibition enforced?

  • Eddie Shirkie, Palmeira Square, Hove