Residents and businesses urged to have say on controversial bike lane in Portsmouth

A survey on the temporary segregated cycle lane in Elm Grove and Kings Road, in Southsea, will close on November 22 with feedback needed to shape whether the trial is continued.

The lane was set up for a three-week trial using the emergency active travel fund, which was established by government to encourage walking and cycling during lockdown.

However, it has proved divisive with several of the bollards being damaged and removed deliberately.

Councillor Lynne Stagg, Portsmouth City Council's traffic and transportation boss, said: 'The trial of cycle lanes along these roads will help us learn more about how a segregated cycle scheme operates, not just on paper but in real life in both a shopping and residential area. We appreciate that some are worried this trial is too short but we need to balance this with the concerns of businesses.

'To assess the impact of this trial, it is important the bollards remain in place so we can get an accurate idea of how they are affecting things like deliveries, bus journeys and people cycling.

'Please share your views in the online survey to help us review the scheme in three weeks. We will write to everyone in the area to make sure they have an opportunity to share their views.'

To take part in the survey and for more information visit portsmouth.gov.uk/elmgrove. People can also share their views by emailing [email protected].

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

The News is more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription to support our journalism.

You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news online - as well as our new Puzzles section.