‘Shared space’ in Southend

A FURIOUS cyclist is suing Southend Council after dislocating her ankle in the town’s seafront “shared space” zone. 

Visitor Karen Stanley, 51, came to the town with her husband, Neil, 43, for a bike ride along the seafront, including the revamped £7.6million City Beach area, in Marine Parade. Spotting three cars behind her, she pulled over to let them through, tripping over the small kerb which runs through the zone. Mrs Stanley now faces six weeks in plaster and has had to cancel a holiday in Menorca, because of the August 18 accident. 

In the shared space zone, pedestrians, drivers and cyclists are supposed to mix freely. The scheme was a cornerstone of the council’s bid for Government funding to revamp the seafront, which was finally finished in March last year. However, many users say the area’s layout is confusing and potentially dangerous.