A PLAN to tackle cyclists’ safety on Bridge Street in Christchurch won’t be available until the New Year due to the ongoing Spur Road work.

Highways bosses at Dorset County Council, who are responsible for roads in Christchurch, have been asked to look at ways to improve cycle safety on the busy town centre route.

This includes the possibility of a cycleway on the route.

But due to the major A338 improvement works which are due to continue until May 2016, work on the Bridge Street brief won’t take place until at, least January 2016.

At a meeting of Christchurch council’s community services committee last week, members questioned Wayne Sayers, Dorset County Council’s sustainable transport manager over the plan.

He told them he did not have a time frame for the project, but admitted after questions, that it could take a long time, especially when it came to considering how the scheme was going to be funded.

Cllr Colin Bungey said: “One of the problems we need to address here is painting a lane down a road is not an option.

“We have huge volumes of traffic down our roads. In Fairmile cyclists do not use (cycle lanes) as they feel it is too dangerous.

“We have got cycle lanes that are not being used.

“Some of our roads are not suitable for them; they are dangerous roads and that is the problem that this borough has.

“Barrack Road is another example. We have got these lanes and very few people use them and that is a concern.”

Mr Sayers said a plan for Bridge Street may be included as part of a wider study across different parts of the borough.

“I think the advantage of doing a wider strategy is to look at all the issues”, he told members.