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TRAFFORD council is set to make more changes to cycle lanes across the borough after two were removed last month.

Cycle lanes on Stockport Road in Altrincham (the A560) and Kingsway in Stretford (the A5145) were removed as part of resurfacing work carried out by the council’s contractors, Amey.

The lanes were replaced with intermittent painted symbols in early October. The move left cyclists furious, who were concerned that sharing the carriageway with motorists with no separated cycle lane would prove dangerous.

But more changes are in the pipeline as the council has announced it is working with Transport for Greater Manchester on plans to alter cycle lanes in Gorse Hill, Longford, Timperley, Stretford, Davyhulme and Brooklands Road in Sale.

The authority said it wants to remove the ‘substandard markings’ in these areas in an attempt to encourage motorists to overtake cyclists more carefully and at slower speeds.

It said research suggests that removing road markings, including central lines, encourages drivers to proceed with more caution.

Coun Stephen Adshead, Trafford council’s cabinet member for the environment, said: “The safety of cyclists and all other road users is the number one priority for both Trafford Council and Transport for Greater Manchester.

“Recent research has found that drivers give cyclists less passing room on average on roads with a marked cycle lane.

“The layout changes we are making will encourage cyclists to adopt the optimum road position rather than riding closer to the kerb, as would occur if they rode within the existing cycle lane.

”The guidance used is supported by the Street for All design guidance and is adopted by Greater Manchester Local Authorities.

But cyclists aren’t convinced. Tom Jeffs, who runs Urmston’s cycling Bee Network, said: “I feel some of the [council’s] statements are presenting a best case scenario and not mentioning all the risks.”