CONFUSED motorists in Corbridge are calling for answers over the removal of centre line road markings and installation of cycle lanes along a busy stretch of road.

As part of resurfacing work to the B6350 Newcastle Road in the village, Northumberland County Council highways officials have given the go-ahead for the installation of 1.5 metre wide advisory cycle lanes in each direction.

The 860-metre stretch of new road markings appeared out of the blue on Friday and are designed to highlight the presence of the Hadrian’s Cycleway route 72, which passes through the village, and the greater likelihood of encountering cyclists on this section of road.

The advisory nature of the cycle lane means that vehicles are able to use the space when there are no cyclists present and in other parts of the country the measure has been used to reduce vehicle speeds.

However, many motorists have branded it a hazard, with others pointing out that the lanes are wide enough to take a parked car and leave drivers assuming they are confined to the narrower centre of the road.

Among those who have taken to the Courant Facebook page to air their concerns is Kay Wharton, who wrote: “Definitely an accident waiting to happen! May as well have traffic lights there; we’re going to need them!”

Mandy Mater posted: “I did wonder if it was going to be a one way system and wondered how that was going to work! I'm a carer in Corbridge and it was a nightmare before they did this trying to avoid the potholes! This is an accident waiting to happen. And the cycle lanes only go so far up; so what happens after that?”

Chairman of Corbridge Parish Council, Coun. Maurice Hodgson, said he’d been inundated with questions from confused residents.

He said: “Nobody seems to understand what they mean, but it is all part of a county council experiment to try and make Northumberland more cycle-friendly.”

Read this week’s Courant for the full story and county council response.