Rickney Lane is a stretch of hard fought over road in East Sussex; without a huge campaigning effort from Cycling UK and local groups, this picturesque stretch of the National Cycle Network 2 would have been too dangerous to enjoy. 

Rickney Lane may be only a brief four miles of meandering road north west of Pevensey in East Sussex, but few other stretches of tarmac could better represent the joys of cycling in the English countryside. Between rows of ancient hedgerows buzzing with bees and other beasties, passers-by are offered scenic glimpses into luscious fields, where cattle graze and bales of hay lie drying out in the sun.

However, this idyllic peace and quiet was abruptly shattered a few years ago when a waste management firm began to operate out of a site on the road, with heavy good vehicles (HGVs) suddenly forming 35% of traffic on the previously quiet route. Things went from bad to worse in 2015, when a serious collision occurred involving an HGV and a cyclist. Paradise, it seemed, was lost.

But Cycling UK and two of our local affiliated groups – 1066 Cycle Club and Bexhill Wheelers – weren’t having any of it. Together, we raised serious concerns with the local council and, in August 2015, the route was declared unsuitable for HGVs. Victory was then assured when, in 2017, Wealden District Council unanimously agreed to refuse a retrospective planning application by the waste company to operate from the site.

This local campaigning success not only preserved a blissful route through East Sussex and ensured that the NCN2 – of which the road is a part – is safe for everyone, but it also set a valuable precedent and reminds us all of the need to be vigilant in protecting the quite lanes and trails of the UK countryside.

If you find yourself nearby, Rickney Lane is highly recommended for an afternoon potter in the sun, where you can enjoy the hard-won peace and quiet of the English countryside once more.