Middlesbrough cycle lane could be ripped out
Business owners have reacted to the news a controversial cycle lane on a key town centre route could be ripped out.
The £1.7m scheme on Middlesbrough’s Linthorpe Road, approved under former Independent mayor Andy Preston, has faced major backlash since its installation in 2022. Several cyclists and pedestrians have suffered injuries while using the new layout, while local businesses have reported a loss in custom due to a shortage in parking.
Following the news the lane could now be removed, the Local Democracy Reporting Service spoke to business owners on a busy stretch of the road to ask for their views. Most were relieved with one owner stating: “The quicker the better”.
The cycle lane proved unpopular from the outset with a petition being launched against the plans by Linthorpe Road business people. Paolo Arceri, owner of Madame Rouge vintage pub and tearooms said: “The whole road said no to the cycle lane.
“This is a road full of businesses and it’s not domestic, it’s not houses. It’s a commercial area so why would they think taking away the parking would be a good idea?
“We have got disabled and elderly customers and they can’t park. Taxis can’t drop off because it takes over the lane.
“Taxis can’t drop off because it takes over the lane. We have lost elderly customers because of it, without shadow of a doubt. Where can you drop off? Where can you park?
“It’s been an absolute disaster. They have not listened to the people.”
Li Miao Wong, owner of the Li Beauty Nail Salon said: “I have had lots of customers who have got parking tickets and they stop coming. There’s no space to park.”
She also said the traffic is a problem and noted there have been several crashes on the road. . In September 2022, 78-year-old Dorothy was left with two black eyes and a broken wrist after tripping over a divider while 27-year-old Samantha Skene shattered her elbow after she tripped following a night out at The Townhouse.
Cyclist Paul Harris was thrown over the handlebars of his bike after it hit one of the dividers, suffering a bruised and protruding collar bone, three stitches above his left eyebrow, and multiple nasty scrapes.
Workers at Housams, which has been on the road for 50 years, said the removal couldn’t come soon enough. Janet Housam said: “The quicker the better.
She said the road turns to “chaos” when emergency services are responding to incidents. And when buses pull up “nobody can move”.
“There’s nowhere to pull over and you can’t get parked,” she said. “That’s always been a problem in the past 40 years but they have made it worse. It’s so confusing for people – you need a degree to work out the system.”
A worker at the Asian Grocery Store, who did not want to be named, said several businesses have been affected. Cars are unable to park in the taxi rank after 7pm and the fine is ÂŁ1,000 if caught twice, he said.
Not everyone is against the cycle lane, which was aimed at encouraging fitness and making the town “greener”. Ameer Hamza, who works at Novello Ristorante, said it was better for the environment, adding: “I think it’s okay as it is. Lots more people are using cycles.”
Funding for the cycle lane came from a £310m transport pot distributed by the Tees Valley Combined Authority. Both Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke and Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen previously pledged to remove it, and now a four-week consultation has been launched seeking views on plans to reinstate the road’s previous layout, while retaining the closure of Victoria Street.
In a letter to businesses on the road regarding the consultation, Mr Cooke said: “My pledge was to remove the cycle lane and I have remained committed to this pledge. I understand that the removal has taken longer than expected and this has been particularly difficult for businesses.
“However I want to reassure you that behind the scenes there has been lots of work going on to make sure that the removal happens safely and correctly. This has taken a considerable amount of time due to the scale and complexity of the removal.”