Calls to repair the path along the bottom of Cadborough Cliff were given unanimous backing by Rother District Council on Monday 23 February. Councillors approved a motion demanding East Sussex County Council reconstruct the route within 12 months.
The path, which is part of the national cycle route, runs between Gibbet Marsh and Float Lane.
A large section of the track is impassable in wet weather, and has been for at least four years said Rye and Winchelsea Councillor Simon McGurk in a report to council. “For much of the year, the condition of the surface renders the path impassable for cyclists, wheelchair users, mobility scooter users, parents with buggies and those who are less sure-footed, significantly restricting accessibility and excluding many residents and visitors.”
“It is no longer acceptable to have a so-so muddy route that is not accessible to all,” said Councillor Sue Burton. “It’s in a very bad state.”
“I know the path well,” said Councillor Paul Osborne. “Twenty years ago it was improved, but it is now impassable.” He noted the improved cycle path between Jurys Gap and Lydd as an example of what could be achieved.
Providing a safe route away from the A259 between Rye and Winchelsea was also seen as vital, councillors heard.
The council approved writing to East Sussex County Council urging it to commit funding to the urgent repair and reconstruction of the track from Gibbet Marsh to Float Lane within 12 months.
The decision was welcomed by Nick Hanna, chair of Sussex Greenways. “We’re really encouraged by the amount of support this got from councillors. Now we’re looking forward to ESCC stepping up and getting this route sorted out. The cost is relatively small but the benefit to the local community would be huge. We’re hoping they can complete it in time for the summer.”
You can watch the discussion at Bexhill Town Hall here.
It’s good news that a few people with power have recognised what loads of people without power have know for many years. Some of us have been banging on about this forever, it seems. Some of us had given up. This trail meets none of the necessary requirements of a shared-use route, let alone a National Cycle Network. It’s been an embarrassment to the town for ten years or more. I really hope that Rother DC’s words have more impact on ESCC than those of the walkers and cyclists who use the route.
Altogether dangerous. Needs proper repair which will be expensive, but necessary for those that cycle and walk.
For those in charge of the track, I would guess that reparations to one or more injuries would far outweigh the initial cost of repair of a seriously neglected track.
David is absolutely correct! The state of this cycle route has been featured in Rye News numerous times, e.g. https://www.ryenews.org.uk/news/sport/our-national-cycle-paths.
ESCC have no interest in maintaining this stretch of the cycle network, it is an embarrassment. I wonder what visitors who cycle in East Sussex make of it
As part of the Sussex Greenways group we have been highlighting this strongly and it’s nice to see that local councillors have presented this to get some action on this. We would like to thank Simon McGurk and Sue Burton that presented this at the meeting.
Sussex Greenways meet once a month so we can discuss improving wheeler routes. It’s not just about cycling but making paths more wheeler friendly. Our aim is to also link neighbouring villages with safe off road routes with the approval of landowners and the Council.
Please do look on our FB group Sussex Greenways for updates or come along to a meeting. We have a few projects in the pipeline
ESCC have received £1.4 million specifically for funding active travel in the county.
https://www.eastsussexconservatives.org.uk/news/cash-boost-more-active-travel-initiatives-conservative-led-east-sussex
So there’s absolutely no excuse for them not to spend some of that fixing the Cadborough Cliff path.
Rye is very neglected by ESCC not only the path which has been difficult for a long while but the potholes round town are dreadful. The one repaired in Cinque Ports in the summer already needs repair again and the area by The Mint junction is appalling. Whoever the contractors are their work is to a poor standard.
Good that Cadborough Cliff path will be made suitable for wheeler access. I hope that impact on wildlife is as low as possible during reconstruction, and that its new surface will prioritise permeability, natural materials & low maintenance – to support biodiversity.
My interest is in recording flora, which supports abundant wildlife alongside the path. The area is perfect for Butterflies, Bees, Dragonflies & Damselflies – they’re often seen sunning on the path or feeding on wildflowers.
Nightingale song can be heard during Summer, in a natural amphitheatre of tall trees & scrub, secluded from the path. The sound is wonderfully amplified there. During the quiet of Covid lockdown we heard Turtle Doves, but understand they’re no longer present?
Buzzards soar above the path, also Mistle Thrush, Barn Owl, Kestrel, Yellowhammer, Cetti’s Warbler & Skylark to enjoy. Hoping that work on the path’s renewal will respect the spirit of this special place.
I cycle along this path regularly and have no problem with it, except for the section where the landslip happened a few years ago – that bit does need attention. I do understand the need for wheelchair & mobility scooter users, but I’m not in favour of a tarmac path – as the one going out to Lydd – that is a completely different environment than Cadborough. This treatment would ruin such a sensitive area for the wildlife that we all enjoy there.
I have ridden many paths, cycling all over the UK. Paths with compressed crushed stone similar to the existing path, but flattened would be perfectly acceptable. I feel tarmac would completely urbanise this area. To the people organising this, please give this thought.
I have to disagree and perhaps you weren’t using the path 25 years ago when it was first opened? Why would a tarmac path disturb the wildlife, the cycle route between Rye and Lydd hasn’t had any impact on the environment as far as I’m aware.
It’s a cycle path in need of some much needed maintenance and restoring to at least to it’s original condition would be a start.
The track does need widening back to it original width but not tarmacked, this would only encourage people to ride even faster along the track. We have walked this track most days for the last 40 years so have seen many incidents involving the various users. Could some thought be given to installing a couple of cyle/horse friendly gates as before. The original gates did help in deterring motorcycles using the path, which is extremely dangerous when walking, riding or cycling and a motorbike comes flying round the corner.