THERE is confusion over a by-law banning cycling in Bromsgrove High Street - despite signs clearly banning cyclists from riding there.

And concerned pedestrians may have to wait years until the town centre is revamped for clarification.

Last January, at a St John's Partners and Community Together (PACT) meeting, the Advertiser/Messenger asked why the ban on cycling is not being enforced.

The question was asked following several incidents where people, especially the elderly, had been terrified by cyclists weaving in and out of unwary pedestrians.

Now police are beginning to heed these complaints, as well as the abuse of vehicle access outside specified hours. This week they admitted they regularly receive complaints from worried pedestrians.

Problems Community Support Officer Julie Wright said: "While these may seem like minor issues to some people, all of these problems are regularly mentioned by shoppers who stop and talk to me in the town centre."

Conservative district councillor Rita Dent, whose St John's ward includes the High Street, contacted the highways authority and Graham Rocke, community safety manager at Bromsgrove District Council, following the PACT meeting ten months ago for clarification over the by-law.

She said: "I am still waiting for a response, but I appreciate people are being hurt by cyclists in the meantime. The issue will also be looked at as part of Bromsgrove's town centre redevelopment."

A county council spokesman said: "There isn't an answer whether an order is in force. We are investigating whether a historical traffic order is still valid, or if it needs refreshing."