Councillors say they want to rid Faversham of “arrogant and fast” cyclists whizzing through the town centre.

Calls to curb the bikers were led by Cllr Anita Walker at a Local Engagement Forum (LEF) meeting on Tuesday evening.

Chairing the debate, the Conservative said someone had once been killed by a cyclist in Preston Street and it was time to take action.

Fellow Tory Cllr Ted Wilcox said: “They are really dangerous. They go down the wrong way and I believe that no cyclists have ever been prosecuted for doing so.

“We want to stop the arrogant and fast cyclists in the town centre. We see it every day that someone is almost knocked over.”

Cllr Bryan Mulhern (Con) added: “My problem is not with the cyclists who amble gently through the town. We should be encouraging them.

“But it is these others, who go the wrong way and who go way quicker than cars during the daytime who we need to stop.”

Mayor Nigel Kay says it is very often adults, and not the children, causing problems.

But keen cyclist Tim Stonor does not agree.

He told the forum: “If Faversham is seeking to ban cyclists then it is going backwards, when everyone else is going forwards.

“Towns and cities throughout the UK are positively encouraging greater levels of cycling because they see cycling as part of their sustainability strategy, part of their economic regeneration strategy and part of their health strategy.

“Rather than victimise people who choose to cycle we should be encouraging a culture of civilised behaviour throughout the town.” - Tim Stonor

“Rather than victimise people who choose to cycle we should be encouraging a culture of civilised behaviour throughout the town.”

The calls for action against cyclists come as police pledge their support for the campaign for a 20mph speed limit in the town centre.

Community safety unit sergeant Jason Hedges said at the LEF: “We are trying to encourage areas in Faversham to take up a speed watch system.

“The council need statistics to start thinking about implementing a new speed limit and we need to find out who is doing the speeding.

“The speed watch system can be used to persuade highways to temper the speed limit around the town. We would like to support the campaign for the 20mph speed limit.”