The long term future of controversial cycle lanes in Reading are set to be decided at a crunch council meeting.

Cycle lanes in Sidmouth Street have been in place since on a temporary basis since the summer of 2020, with the council closing the southbound lane of the street to make way for cyclists.

The lane used to be used as a way for drivers to get from Queen’s Road up onto London Road to head west.

Now, a council plan to make the cycle lanes and the closure of Sidmouth Street permanent will be decided at a traffic management sub-committee meeting on Wednesday, September 14.

While the council has argued that the lanes will form a link to better cycle routes in Reading in the future, they have been hit with opposition from residents and drivers.

Council officers have admitted that the Sidmouth Street lanes are “not ideal” in isolation, but should stay in place to be linked with existing and future cycle routes.

READ MORE: Cyclists hit out at missing signage on Reading roads in latest study

There is an existing route with the shared pedestrian and cyclist pavement on London Road and Wokingham Road, with the council hoping to improve cycling links to the Kennet tow path and a permanent cycle route the council will create in Shinfield Road.

Therefore, officers have recommended that the Sidmouth Street cycle lanes be made permanent.

Councillor Tony Page (Labour, Abbey) has argued rejecting the proposal would mean that the council could lose out on future government grants to improve cycling facilitates on Reading roads.

READ MORE: Reading measures to boost cycling made permanent

Cllr Page, lead councillor for transport, said: “Nobody is claiming that the current facility viewed in isolation is ideal, but the piecemeal nature of Government funding opportunities for cycling infrastructure means that we must consider not only the current position, but also the impact on possible bidding opportunities which may present themselves in the future.

“Officers acknowledge Sidmouth Street is an important building block towards an expanded local cycle network in the areas which will link to it.

“The fact remains that removal of the scheme at this time would undoubtedly weaken our position in relation to future bids for funding.”

However residents and drivers have argued the temporary lanes should be removed and the southbound lane should be reinstated.

The plan to make the cycle lanes permament has been opposed by residents and the the University College of Estate Management (UCEM) in Queen’s Road, which formally objected to the cycle lanes by conducting a traffic study.

READ MORE: Pictures showing cycle lane being shunned as college objects to lanes being made permanent

Held over two weeks, the traffic study demonstrated that a majority of cyclists shunned the dedicated lanes in favour of the road on the second week that Sidmouth Street was observed.

Meanwhile, Reading resident  Raymond Tapken expressed fears that the cycle lanes cut off a crucial route for emergency services between Queen’s Road and London Road, and are seldom used by cyclists anyway.