BOROUGH chiefs are being urged to axe plans to restrict through traffic on a Knutsford road in favour of one more widely used by cyclists.

Cheshire East Council announced last week that it intended to restrict through traffic in Ladies Mile to pedestrians and cyclists only as part of a boost for active travel.

It will also implement the same measure along Hawthorn Lane, in Wilmslow.

But the move has led to confusion as to why Ladies Mile was picked, rather than roads that could benefit more cyclists with traffic calming measures.

"We think they have made a mistake," Cllr Quentin Abel, independent, told the Guardian.

"Nobody interested in cycling knows why they have chosen Ladies Mile. It is one where you are scratching your head."

Knutsford Town Council has written to CEC about the issue.

It is hoping CEC could pick a road that already features in either the town council's cycling plan or cycling infrastructure delivery plan.

“We are hoping to work with CEC to identify an alternative scheme for funding that would deliver benefits for cyclists in town,” added Adam Keppel-Green, Knutsford town clerk.

Ladies Mile links Tabley Road with Northwich Road on the other side of the Heath to the A50.

Part of it does feature in the Knutsford Revolution Cycle Route, a six-mile route around town, and in its announcement last week CEC said it would consider other parts of the route for future measures to boost walking and cycling in town.

Knutsford Guardian:

Cllr Laura Crane, CEC cabinet member for highways and waste, added: “We know people’s travel behaviour has changed during the lockdown – and we are determined to lock in the benefits of more people walking and cycling to make our town centres safer, healthier and more welcoming to shoppers and visitors.

“These initial projects are, by their very nature and the short timescales involved, an experiment.

"We will continue to work with the town and parish councils to develop, review and refine these measures and others, as appropriate, before anything becomes permanent.”

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The measures in Ladies Mile and Hawthorn Lane are set to be implemented this month, and are two of nine projects in the first phase of a Government-funded scheme worth £619,000.

Other measures could be introduced in Manchester Road and Hawthorn Lane, in Wilmslow, in the second phase of the scheme.