WATCH: Ambulance delayed in Northampton road as residents protest against cycle wands

More than 40 residents in Rushmere Road met with county councillors last night to discuss the temporary traffic wands that segregate the road from the bicycle lane.

While councillors were on the scene, an ambulance was delayed in heavy traffic as vehicles struggled to budge to the side of the road to let the emergency vehicle, on a blue-light run, through.

But East Midlands Ambulance Service said they believe the orange traffic wands are a good thing if they further protect the safety of cyclists.

Lee Brentnall, Ambulance Operations Manager for Northamptonshire said: “We welcome the cycle lanes on Rushmere Road and around Northampton because they are there to help keep cyclists safe.

“Our frontline staff are trained to deal with a wide range of road conditions, including heavy traffic, whether that is while driving normally or under blue light conditions."

The main concerns residents have is how will the cycle lane be kept safe if road sweepers cannot gain access to it, they question why they were not consulted about the change and they are fearful for emergency services vehicles being blocked by traffic.

One resident, who has asked for anonymity, said: "The cars driving down the street were unable to pull to the side of the road and that's pretty damning, I think. If I was driving the ambulance I would have been frustrated if I had a patient on board while trying to get to the hospital.

"We are absolutely not against improving the safety of cyclists in the county but it has to be a safe solution not ugly and intrusive but one that give the cyclists options. They have caused residents so much stress and anguish."

It comes as Northamptonshire County Council received £351,000 of funding from the Government’ Active Travel Emergency Fund in May to encourage people to cycle during the pandemic.

The fund has paid for posts to be installed on one side of Rushmere Road East - where there is already a pre-existing cycle lane - as well as 36 cycle racks across town.

Councillor Julie Davenport (Ind, Delapre & Briar Hill) added: "Residents were very emotive about the subject as they had been feeling that no one had cared about their feelings and concerns about what has happened on their street.

"The biggest problem is safety of cyclists due to it only measuring 70cm at its narrowest and 90cm at widest, but cycling guidelines state they should be at least 1.5 metres wide. Leaves and debris could collect and becoming slippery for wheels as there is not enough room for cyclists to avoid. Disability discrimination was raised as a major issue because disability tricycles can no longer fit in cycle lanes.

"As we left the meeting an ambulance tried to get up the road to the hospital and because cars can no longer pull over on the kerb due to the posts it was very challenging, I'm not sure how a fire engine could manage."

It comes as the Chronicle & Echo revealed a bid put to central Government by the county council to fund a £1.4m project to turn Billing Road into a westbound one-way street.

The opposite carriageway on the mile-long road would then be used to make a segregated two-way cycle lane as part of a wider plan to make two-and-a-half miles of cycle routes starting in Wellingborough Road.