THE future of controversial cycle lanes in Corbridge remains uncertain after a meeting to mark the end of the trial.

Officials from Northumberland County Council met with residents, Corbridge Health Centre staff and local councillors on Monday to look at how the 1.5-metre wide advisory lanes on both sides a stretch of Newcastle Road are being used.

However, data collected during speed surveys and feedback from local people suggests the lanes, installed last November, have had little impact on slowing down drivers and are often unable to be used by cyclists due to parked cars.

Chairman of Corbridge Parish Council, Coun. Maurice Hodgson, was at Monday’s meeting.

“Compared with speed statistics from five or six years ago, which showed drivers travelled at an average of 38 miles an hour, there was only a couple of miles an hour difference, with most drivers travelling at about 36,” said Coun. Hodgson.

“It’s still too fast for that stretch of road and a number of suggestions have been put forward on the future of the cycle lanes.”

The proposals up for consideration include leaving the lanes, removing them, leaving a cycle lane on one side of the road and re-painting the central white lines.

Confused motorists were left calling for answers over the removal of the central white lines and the installation of cycle lanes, which appeared out of the blue 10 months ago.

As part of resurfacing work on the road leading in to the village, county council highways officials gave the go-ahead for the installation of the cycle lanes in both directions.

The council argued that the lanes would highlight the presence of the Hadrian’s Cycleway route 72, which passes through the village, and had been used in many parts of the country to help reduce vehicle speeds.

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

A spokesman for Northumberland County Council said: “During the trial we carried out speed surveys, taken video footage and gathered comments and feedback from a range of users and local residents. We are now considering all of this feedback, and will be discussing next steps with the parish council and local county councillor in the coming weeks.”

It is hoped a decision on any changes to the carriageway will be made by the end of October when major resurfacing work is planned for another section of Newcastle Road, as well as Princes Street, Main Street and up to the entrance to Corbridge Bridge.

The work has been scheduled to coincide with the final phase of a pipe replacement project by Northern Gas Networks.