Support is growing to reinstate three well-used bike racks in Sandwich, which a cycle campaign have described as “badly needed”.

The stands in No Name Street were recently taken away as part of renovation project involving Sandwich Town Council in partnership with Dover District Council, Sandwich Town Team and local businesses.

It was thought removing them would enhance the area as well as allow for better access.

District councillor Linda Keen, who represents the Aylesham ward, is an avid cyclist who is pressing for their reinstatement, along with East Kent Cycle Campaign Spokes.

She said: “Visiting cyclists like me head for the centre of the shopping area – for refreshments and shopping – which is why the three they have removed were well used, and the ones in the empty wilderness of the Guildhall car park are not.

“I certainly don’t even know where they are.

“Car parks are for cars, not cyclists.”

Cllr Keen told DDC their offer to display a map of alternative cycle parking would not work.

She said: “As a regular cyclist to Sandwich, the reason the other cycle racks are apparently not used is that they are in the wrong place.”

She thinks cyclists will continue to park their bikes in the area, with or without cycle racks, simply because it is conveniently close to the main shopping square and streets, and more secure for the bikes than a distant car park.

She said: “The whole point of cycling is that you can get straight to the middle of a town and not be marooned on the outskirts. Bicycles will continue to be tied untidily to whatever street furniture is around in this area, and will be much worse visually than simply re-instating the racks.”

Cllr Paul Carter said: “I brought this to the attention of Spokes being a keen cyclist myself and with Cllr Keen we are both shocked that Dover District Council can remove cycle parking at a time when other councils are putting new cycle parking in.

“This is a typical non-cyclist oversight and should be rectified immediately.”

Martin Leggatt, DDC’s Head of Assets and Building Control, has told them he is content that the removal of the rack in No Name Street does not constitute an unacceptable detriment to the cycling community.

A DDC spokesman said: “Works were carried out to enhance the appearance of the area, and this did include the removal of bicycle racks to allow a better level of access.

“There are a number of other bike racks in the area, including the Guildhall car park, Moat Sole, King Street and in front of the New Inn, which are all retained.”

You can support the call to reinstate the cycle racks at: http://www.spokeseastkent.org.uk/sandwich.html