DESPITE calls for the complete removal of controversial cycle lanes in Corbridge due to road safety fears, council chiefs have agreed to remove just one section.

The uphill eastbound advisory cycle lane on Newcastle Road is set to remain in place for another six months as part of a trial aimed at highlighting the presence of the national Hadrian’s Cycle Route 72.

However, Northumberland County Council said it was prepared to remove the downhill westbound section of the road markings in response to local feedback, and to ensure the route is “clearer and safer for all”.

Confused drivers were confronted with the 860-metre stretch of new road markings for the first time in November 2015, after 1.5m wide cycle lanes were installed on both sides of the carriageway out of the blue, and the centre white line removed.

The new layout, installed as part of road resurfacing work, left many drivers to assume they were confined to driving in the centre of the road and the decision prompted a public backlash after frequent reports of near misses.

Long-serving parish councillor David Walton expressed concern the county council had stopped short of removing the cycle lanes altogether.

“When are these people going to listen to Corbridge residents?” he said.

“Probably after someone is badly injured or even worse.”

Parish council chairman, Coun. Maurice Hodgson, said he was disappointed with the decision.

“After careful consideration we urged the county council to remove the lanes in their entirety and reinstate the centre line,” he said.

“It may be that if proper consultation had taken place at that time then the proposals it is now going to implement for a trial period may have been more acceptable.”

But county council officials said a Traffic Regulation Order was to be introduced on the remaining western stretch of cycle lane to stop vehicles parking in the lanes and causing a road safety hazard.

And after a road safety audit found traffic flouting the 30mph speed limit, enforcement work was due to be carried out with support from Northumbria Police.

Coun. Ian Swithenbank, cabinet member for local services at the county council, said: “We are trying to make Northumberland more cycle friendly for both residents and visitors alike and schemes like this are a key part of improving road safety for cyclists and other road users, which is of paramount importance to us.

“We’ve listened to local people and taken on board their comments and will be amending the scheme to make it clearer and safer for all road users before making a final decision on whether the trial should be made permanent.”