Campaigners are celebrating after people power forced a Swale council u-turn.

Islanders were furious this week that new signs had appeared along The Leas in Minster banning bikes.

Although according to a 2005 byelaw it has always been a no cycling area, the council took the decision to start enforcing the restriction after receiving complaints about the irresponsible use of bikes, several near misses and the danger of a serious accident occurring.

But after an angry backlash from cyclists who have used the stretch for years, the council has backed down.

The issue was raised at the Sheppey Local Engagement Forum last night evening by a member of the public, who asked for more information about it.

Swale council chief executive Abdool Kara was there and was quick to jump in and assure everyone the decision had already been made to remove the notices.

He also admitted they were put up too hastily.

“One of our officers decided to renew the faded signs – we think that was the wrong thing to do,” he said.

“A small number of pedestrians are unhappy about a small number of cyclists so maybe this is one of those situations where we have to trust people to be adult about it.

“We are not going to enforce anti-cycling but we do expect people to cycle in a safe manner.

“It’s not our role to over-react to pedestrians who are overly sensitive about it because there has not been an accident that we know of.

“People need to be grown up about this.”

Mr Kara added that notices asking people to respect other users of The Leas and be considerate, or something similar, will be put up instead.

It will take a few weeks for this to happen.

At the meeting, he was asked if there is anyway a cycle path similar to those in Sheerness could be installed along The Leas and Mr Kara said this is something Swale council is in the process of discussing with Kent Highways.

Dozens of people celebrated the u-turn on the Times Guardian’s Facebook group and said it was a triumph for pedal power and common sense.