A Bournemouth councillor has said he “would love to stick a broom through the spokes” of bikes being ridden on pavements. Nick Rose made the comments after a presentation about cycle-friendly locations in Holland at Westbourne Community Forum on Thursday.

Local residents association chairman, Reverend Chris Colledge, told the Bournemouth Echo that the meeting descended into a “shambles” after Rose’s comments.

“I was somewhat disconcerted when Councillor Rose explained to the meeting that if he should find himself sharing a pavement with a cyclist he would insert a stick into the spokes of their wheel. We do not attend these meetings to hear councillors make puerile remarks.”

Rose responded: “If someone is cycling along the pavement irresponsibly and telling people to ‘f-off and get out the way’, I would love to stick a broom through his spoke. And I got a round of applause for that from the audience. It was obviously a joke. There was no-one angry… the only person angry was this Rev Colledge.”

Colledge, disputes this.

Angela Pooley, spokesperson for Bournemouth Cycling Forum, called Rose’s comment ‘irresponsible’.

“Bournemouth Cycling Forum does not condone irresponsible behaviour by cyclists and believes that all road users should treat each other with respect whether you’re a cyclist; motorist or pedestrian.

“We therefore believe the comments made by Councillor Rose are irresponsible and fuel hostility towards cyclists. Fortunately, there is a significant number of councillors and council officers that are actively working with the forum to promote safe cycling in and around Bournemouth.”

Council leader John Beesley, who usually chairs the Westbourne Community Forum as well as the West Cliff community forum which was also presided over by Rose recently, said: “I am disappointed if they didn’t go as smoothly as they have done on every occasion up until last week.”

In January and February, Rose organised four ‘action afternoons’ targeting pavement cyclists. Writing on his website, he explained:

“A PCSO stands at the entrance of the Westbourne Arcade at around 4.30pm to catch those who are two [sic] lazy to cycle around the one way system, but cycle on the pavement instead.

“At the same time they stop anyone cycling correctly on the road, but without lights. In such cases, tickets are issued, but they are “torn up” if the owner can show a receipt for a new set of lights within 7 days at the police station.

“Sometimes, if a person cycling on the pavement is “considerate” to pedestrians, or is a child and it would be dangerous to cycle on the road, the PCSO will ask them to get off their bike, ask them to push it and not issue a ticket. But if they are causing danger, tickets will be issued immediately.”

Although Rose said that he would post figures from these exercises, none have yet been published.

Transport minister Robert Goodwill has previously said that cyclists may ride on the footway, provided they do so considerately, and that police officers need to exercise discretion.