Colchester's newest city centre cycle lane was completed ten weeks late and went £140,000 over budget, it has been revealed. 

The 212m (695ft) cycle route in Head Street took almost nine months to complete and was finished nine and a half weeks late. 

New figures, from and FOI request, have shown it went £142,978 over budget at a total cost of £878,912.

The project was paid for using government funding and was initially expected to cost £735,934.

Gazette: New - The cycle lane in Head Street opened in MayNew - The cycle lane in Head Street opened in May (Image: Newsquest)

The FOI data also showed that head counts undertaken by the council in October 2019 found there was an average of 136 cyclists per day using Head Street.

While by April 2024 this daily number had increased to 430.

A spokesman for Essex County Council said: “A big reason some people choose not to cycle is concerns for their safety on the road.

“This cycle facility provides riders of all ages and abilities the protection they need to travel safely and confidently."

Gazette: Concerns - Philip and Patricia Davies said the lane could pose an issue for people getting out of taxisConcerns - Philip and Patricia Davies said the lane could pose an issue for people getting out of taxis (Image: Newsquest)

The spokesman also said that costs increased due to the discovery of “unmapped services and cellars underneath Head Street” and the increased cost of building materials due to inflation.

A gas leak in Head Street and emergency works to the Yates wine bar “were outside” of Essex County Council’s Control and also delayed the works.

The spokesman added: “With all Active Travel funding ringfenced by central government, the project does not detract from highway maintenance”.

“This means funding for the cycle lane could not have been used for other works like pothole fixes, for example.”

Supportive - Green Councillor Richard Kirkby-TaylorSupportive - Green Councillor Richard Kirkby-Taylor (Image: Submitted)

Ward councillor Richard Kirkby-Taylor said: “Encouraging less car has has to be the priority, if we can do that with cycle lanes that’s great.

“We also have to recognise that not everyone can cycle but buses, though as untrendy as it is to say it, are what should be focused on. Both cycle lanes and buses play a role when used together.”

A spokesman for Colchester City Council said: “The figure of 430 cyclists using the lane daily is a testament to the positive impact of this initiative and reflects a growing public preference for environmentally friendly and healthy modes of transportation."