Cycleway backed in close-vote at council

Councillors have narrowly backed plans to build a cycleway on a major Coventry road despite a campaign to stop the felling of 26 trees on the route.

Thousands had signed a petition to save the trees on Clifford Bridge Road but the plans, which includes their felling, were approved in a close-vote by the city council.

The route is designed to be the final stretch of the Binley cycleway linking the city centre with University Hospital.

Members of the council's scrutiny co-ordination committee backed a decision by a senior councillor to approve the two-way path at a meeting on Tuesday.

Plans for the cycle path have been opposed by many in the local area over the loss of trees and safety concerns.

Despite the opposition, the designs were signed off by cabinet member Patricia Hetherton at a meeting last month, following three re-designs of the scheme over several years.

Tuesday's meeting was held after members of both political groups on the council demanded more scrutiny of the ruling on the cycle lane.

The plans were challenged by councillors from across the political spectrum.

Council officers stressed the scheme will undergo another safety review by an outside company before work is carried out, adding that the trees are only being felled as a last resort.

Ms Hatherton's decision was backed by the committee by five votes to four.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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