London Mayor Sadiq Khan has confirmed plans to build a dedicated cycle lane on the Westway flyover have been scrapped.
Speaking at his Mayor’s Questions Time (MQT) session taking place on Wednesday (November 16) morning at City Hall, he confirmed the proposal put forward by his Conservative predecessor Boris Johnson had been shelved.
It was to form part of a new east-west Cycle Superhighway running between Acton and Paddington.
However, Mr Khan has promised to find an alternative route and said he was committed to finding a solution to the issue.
Reports that the Westway cycle lane, which would have been built on the elevated stretch of the A40 which runs over Ladbroke Grove and Notting Hill, had been ditched emerged on Tuesday (November 15).
Transport for London (TfL) was unable to confirm this, but Conservative Greater London Authority (GLA) members criticised the move, with transport spokesperson Keith Prince saying: “Now the Mayor has announced his plans to scrap the Westway cycling scheme, it is important he quickly establishes a viable alternative that works for local residents.
“These changes will add delays that will leave west Londoners cut off from Boris Johnson’s huge improvements to cycling infrastructure.
“ Sadiq Khan promised to increase the percentage of the TfL budget spent on cycling, and it is now looking increasingly likely he will break this pledge.”
Fears the plans would be axed were first raised by London Assembly Member (AM) Caroline Russell amid speculation there was opposition to the plan from Westfield Shopping Centre .
Speaking at today's (Wednesday November 16) Mayor's Question Time, Mr Khan said: “I am committed to providing an alternative to the cancelled Westway cycle superhighway.”
When TfL announced its plans, it said The Westway cycle track would take up one of the six existing traffic lanes on the flyover between Westbourne Bridge and Wood Lane, White City, with a concrete barrier topped with a glass panel separating cyclists from traffic.
It would form part of the first of two schemes, and see a continuous segregated route from Paddington to Wood Lane.
The second scheme would improve existing cycling facilities between Wood Lane and North Acton and connect to the first scheme to form a continuous route.
For more on Mayor's Question Time, head here .
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