New Brighton Bike Hanger Blocks Children's Bedroom Window

Workers installed a new bike hangar in front of three children’s bedroom window despite their father’s repeated requests for it to go elsewhere.

Adam Khan wrote to Brighton and Hove City Council early last month after a public notice about the new bike shelter appeared near his home in Warleigh Road, Brighton.

He was frustrated that no one replied to address his concerns that the car-sized metal box would block the light to his children’s bedroom in the family’s basement flat.

Mr Khan, 52, who has lived in Warleigh Road for 11 years, supported the principle of having bike hangars in the street where most houses have been turned into flats and lack storage space.

During the first national coronavirus lockdown, from March to May 2020, dozens of families had bikes stolen from outside their homes despite having been padlocked

Mr Khan emailed the council to object to the hangar’s position. He said that placing it within five metres of a basement bedroom window was “inhumane”, adding: “A car has windows.

“There’s no doubt this is more substantial than a car. There’s no glass. It’s a big chunk with writing on it. It’s like having a billboard in front of your house.

“The pavement is narrow enough already. It’s so close, it looms over our home. We’re in the basement flat and it’s what we see now out of our bay window.

“I don’t understand what the writing is for. Who needs to know? The only people who see that writing know it’s a residents’ hanger. The writing should be facing out so people can see it.

“Now it’s in it feels like I’m powerless to protect my family from an uncaring implacable force that has come and taken away my space. It feels like it’s part of our house. It’s so close.”

The council said that the hangars had to go at the end of a series of parking bays and the next nearest space was unsuitable because it was next to a tree.

Mr Khan could not see why the hanger should not go at the other end of the road next to the motorcycle parking bay. The bay is next to a wall and the hangar would not block a window.

The council said:

“We’re sorry that the resident in question is disappointed with the position we have chosen for the cycle hangar.

“When we carry out statutory consultations, we often receive large numbers of comments. We take all comments into account before making decisions.

“Unfortunately, we are unable to offer personalised responses to every concern that is raised with us.

“There are various factors we have to take into consideration when assessing sites for cycle hangars. These include issues such as drainage, street furniture, trees and cycle thefts.

“This particular location was assessed as being suitable. Only locations with more than five objections are referred to our Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee for its consideration.

“The cycle hangar has taken the place of a parking space. It may be bigger than an average car but it is smaller than a van. And it doesn’t create any emissions.

“We have had significant interest from hundreds of residents wanting a cycle hangar near their homes.

“We need to provide an infrastructure that allows people to make active travel choices and cycle hangars in Brighton and Hove are a big part of doing this.”