Fury over new 12ft-wide £100,000 cycle route that will squeeze drivers into ... trends now

Residents have been left furious as a cycle-lane has been expanded to become 12-foot-wide - as they say it will squeeze drivers into a narrow lane and could endanger bike riders even more.

The £100,000 project to make the cycle-path two-way has left people in Colchester, Essex, gobsmacked as they brand the council's plans 'sheer stupidity'.

Others complained that the route could be dangerous for pedestrians trying to cross Head Street - while some said that it is inviting near misses and accidents between bikes and cars that have been squeezed onto the narrow stretch on the other side.

Essex County Council says the new extra-wide lane will allow e-scooter and e-bike riders to travel without disrupting the road or pavement.

But even cyclists have complained that there is no point in the 200metre stretch - with drivers reporting peddlers still preferring to use the road.

Locals say this is a waste of money that would have been better spent fixing the already potholed roads around the city.

One resident, Caravan filter installer Gerry Sharpe, raged: 'Sheer stupidity, who comes up with crackpot ideas like this?

The £100,000 project to make the cycle-path two-way has left people in Colchester, Essex, gobsmacked as they brand the council's plans 'sheer stupidity'

But others have been left pleased by the development - including cyclist Bee Sawyer who is 'happy with the cycle lane'

'Now pedestrians need to cross two lanes of traffic and I'm sure cyclists won't stop for pedestrians - what a complete waste of money.

'Not to mention dangerous, as when people want to cross the road they need to stand in the cycle lane to wait for cars crossing.'

Fellow Colchester resident Julio Silva added: 'As a cyclist myself there is no point to this 200m stretch of cycle lane - it is too short to be of meaningful use and not to mention I need to merge / go all the way to the right to join it where cars might be overtaking.

'Then it just ends and I need to merge into traffic once again (dangerous on a bike!) onto the high street or down the hill.

'I would just stay on the regular road towards the left - a bit of a shame as that could have been extra space for cars or buses rather than a useless piece of infrastructure... '

And a third - Shane Jones - said the money would have been far better used had it been put towards making the roads usable in the first place.

He said: 'I'm sorry but why spend £100,000 on a cycle lane when most of the roads in Colchester are absolutely shocking.

'The repairs on our cars are costing more and more because the council would rather waste money on a cycle lane other than putting that money into the roads that us drivers pay for. It's pathetic.'