Observer Comment: Laws are in your own hands

Bicycles, for instance, have come a long way since the present council’s forbears saw fit to ban them from Bexhill’s promenade almost 100 years ago, presumably to prevent ambulatory Edwardians from being mown down in their dozens.

The early 1900s may have said farewell to penny-farthings - probably as much a risk to their riders as to folk around them - but efficient brakes were still in their infancy.

Today’s “jiggers” are far safer and more sophisticated, and with enlightened thinking concerning environmental benefits, better health and so on, perhaps the time to permit seafront cycling has come?

Whatever you think of this and other activities requiring some form of regulation - for instance, fishing from the beach, extreme sports, horse riding - now is the time to have your say.

New draft byelaws are currently out to consultation, with the council keen to know what residents think about proposed amendments before a June 3 deadline.

Surely a comment or two has got to be worthwhile, if only for historic reasons? On past form, whatever is decided now could remain in force for another 100 years.