Umpteen concerns over safety aren't the only issues with this insane plan throughout this narrow park.

Along the whole length of the park, both along the planned "shared" cycle path itself and on the alleged "pedestrian only routes" (which is utter rubbish as you simply cannot avoid the cycle path) there are dozens and dozens of wooden benches where individuals can sit and enjoy beautiful surroundings.

Each and every one of these benches is sponsored by a family who has lost a loved one. The current cost is around £600 for Alexandra Park. In return the family get a memorial plaque (used to be an engraving in the wood) for a 10 year period and the council will maintain the bench.

When you apply for the bench you can choose your preferred location and if available (whether there is a bench already there or not) it will be considered. This may be a very special place to the bereaved and the family.

To be fair, in the small print, there is no guarantee that your bench will be able to stay in this place permanently. However, being a funded memorial to the dead you would expect most councils to be sympathetic to these places of remembrance.

Sadly not in the case of Hastings Borough Council (HBC) or East Sussex County Council (ESCC). 

The bulk of these benches which border the planned cycle route will have their view of the park radically changed. Instead of the lovely relaxing environment they chose to look at they are instead going to get constant bicycles and e-scooters literally a foot or two away from them.... all day long.

I sponsor a bench and it is only by pure chance it is not on the planned route. However I have no faith whatsoever that cyclists are going to stick to a dedicated shared path. They are going to do exactly what they do now (illegally) and cycle where they darned like. So, let's not kid ourselves. Every single sponsor of a memorial bench will be affected in some way.

HBC have already said that in a few cases memorial benches may also have to be totally relocated. Having chosen your special place for your loved one just how disrespectful can this be both to yourself as the sponsor and the deceased?

It's little better than telling a loved one a grave has got to be dug up and the body relocated. Those benches are literally the equivalent of gravestones for so many whose loved ones were cremated.

The cycle route will also create a massive safety issue with these benches. Not only will bikes be speeding inches from peoples legs but there have already been near misses. Children have been playing on a lawn with one parent only to suddenly run off to the other parent, sat on a bench. I am aware of at least 3 similar occurrences where bikes and e-scooters have been extremely close to badly injuring a child. Even adults have stood up from a bench only to be struck by a bike or e-scooter. It's happening NOW.

Remember, this is happening when it's ILLEGAL. If it's made legal the danger will massively increase.

I, and hundreds (if not thousands) of other town residents continue to despair that this awful cycle path scheme is, seven years on, still being considered.

There is no respect for public health and safety, there is no concern about public opinion. It is discriminatory on age and on the physical and mental ability of those who use the park. And as you can see it is blatantly insulting to those who have lost ones and who contribute tens of thousand of pounds to park funds. As for the lack of respect and compassion for the dead well it disgusts me.

Once again I thank you for signing this petition. Please continue to share it again with this update as many people, including those bench sponsors have no idea of what a dreadful impact this will have on what should be lovely places of relaxation and reflection.

As we approach the 800 signature mark please encourage everybody you know to take us past the 1000 milestone. 
It's a shocking plan which the authorities are looking to implement on an incredibly small budget, ignoring ALL concerns. We must send a firm message that the majority of people do not put cycles before safety and we don't appreciate them disrespecting the dead.