A second cycle lane has been removed by Trafford Council’s contractors – and cyclists are furious.

Earlier this month, contractors Amey resurfaced parts of the A560, Stockport Road between Timperley and Altrincham and while doing so removed the cycle lane there.

In its place, the company painted intermittent icons on the road surface which, according to the company, aimed to “remind motorists of the shared carriageway and to be mindful of cyclists in the area”.

Cyclists raised safety concerns about the decision and said the icons would discourage cycling in the area.

At the time, council leader Coun Andrew Western said he wasn’t aware of the contractor’s having removed the cycle lane and he wanted the decision reversed.

But the company has done it again.

This time, Amey has removed the cycle lane along Kingsway (the A5145) in Stretford – a much wider, faster road than the A560; but the council said the painted icons here are “temporary” while improvement work is completed.

Tom Jeffs, a cyclist who is part of the Urmston cycling Bee Network, said: “Kingsway is 25 metres wide.  A standard UK bus is three metres wide.  There is more than enough space for four lanes of traffic, two protected cycleways and wide pavements, shaded by rows of trees.

“The council have now spent a good deal more money resurfacing a road and making no provision whatsoever for cycling.  And there are no long term plans to remodel Kingsway so that protected cycling infrastructure is added.

“It seems the A5145 is to remain a relic of the 1970s – where high speed motoring is preferred over walking and cycling.  If this is the case, Stretford will never improve.  It will remain a congested hellhole that nobody wants to visit.”

Mr Jeffs added he thought Trafford Council was being “hypocritical” for declaring a climate emergency last year and then choosing to build more capacity for motorists “at the expense of pedestrians and cyclists”.

A spokesperson for Trafford Council said: “Trafford Council and Transport for Greater Manchester are currently carrying out work to improve the cycling lanes on Kingsway in Stretford.

“A temporary cycling lane has been put in place during this time. We take the safety of cyclists seriously and it’s our first priority when putting cycling infrastructure into place.”

Coun Andrew Western was contacted for comment.