Much has been made of the proposed Cycle Enfield scheme that our supposed cycle-friendly council has proposed, and its benefits to both cyclists and shopkeepers.

My recent experience of the Enfield shopping precinct means that I will never again be shopping in Enfield Town, either by bike, car or bus.

Just after 9am on Monday, I entered the precinct via the Cecil Road entrance, and walked with my bicycle to the first shop I needed to visit, chaining my bicycle outside the shop.

On completing my purchase, I then walked to Waitrose. As there is no really convenient and secure place to chain my bike, I was in the process of chaining it to the notice board outside the shop when I was stopped by a gauleiter of the socialist state of Enfield, accompanied by a security ‘minder’, who informed me that not only could I not chain my bike there, but also that bicycles were not allowed in the shopping precinct, to which effect there was a sign at the entrance. I had thought that this was a quite reasonable ban on cycling in the precinct, not a total ban on bicycles. I was further informed that my bicycle must be left in the cycle rack by the entrance.

As I left the precinct, by the Church Street exit, I saw the so-called bicycle rack. With space for two bicycles, one was occupied and the other taken up by a securely fastened wheel, all that was left of a cycle left in accordance with council regulations.

KBR Card