ANYONE caught cycling on Weymouth seafront will be hauled before the courts in a new crackdown.

Council chiefs say they will prosecute everyone caught on a bicycle after a softly-softly approach failed to deter cyclists.

Police and council officers are stepping up patrols after receiving an increasing number of complaints about the number of cyclists who persist in using the Esplanade.

A council spokesman said: “A public consultation resulted in cyclists being banned from the seafront altogether.

“The byelaw was relaxed during the consultation, which may have led some people to believe the relaxation was permanent and that cycling was allowed.”

It is also a change of tack for police who previously said they would take a ‘common sense approach’ to cycling on the prom.

Now anyone caught cycling there after August 1 will be taken to court.

The council spokesman said this was the result of ‘growing concern’ expressed by Partners and Communities Together (Pact) groups, local residents and tourists regarding cycling on the promenade.

But members of the Dorset Cyclists’ Network said the decision could leave cyclists in danger as they are forced to take to the roads instead.

Geoff Dodge, a member of the Dorset Cyclists' Network who lives in Weymouth, said the legislation is likely to be ignored by ‘bad cyclists’ anyway.

He said: “This decision doesn’t surprise me at all.

“First the council banned cycling there, and then they allowed it, and now it’s banned again.

“The majority of cyclists, including all of those in the network, are good and will obey the law but the ‘bad’ ones, if you like, will just ignore it and ride there anyway.”

He added: “Anyone riding a bicycle in this part of town would want to ride it along the seafront because it’s so beautiful there.”

The network’s chairman, Michael Evans, added: “It’s a shame that the council cannot find a way to allow cycling on the seafront side.

“The Government, including local government, actively encourages people to use bicycles instead of cars for fitness and exercise reasons as well as for the environment.

“Now that cycling is banned there it will only encourage cyclists to take to the busy main roads, which is more of a danger for them.”

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s spokesman for community safety, Councillor Ian James, said safety issues for all seafront users are paramount.

He added: “It’s important that people are made aware that the ban on cycling along the prom is still very much in force.

“I understand that people got a few misconceptions after the consultation two years ago, so we are trying to make it absolutely clear – cycling on the seafront is banned and anyone caught after August 1 will be prosecuted.

“We are doing this for the safety of our residents and visitors and we believe by giving people a set date and by operating these patrols beforehand we are giving people fair warning.”