A Johnstone cycle lane that has been branded a death trap is to be scrapped "with immediate effect" after a fierce backlash from the community.
At a full council meeting this week, elected members unanimously agreed to remove the temporary cycleway on Beith Road and examine alternative plans for active travel in the area.
It seems even the ruling SNP administration could not turn their backs to the problems the lane was causing for cyclists and drivers, as councillors Andy Steel and Jacqueline Cameron - alongside Labour pair John Hood and Jim Sharkey - called for it be binned.
And they received resounding support from the whole chamber as councillors ordered officers to go back to the drawing board.
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The decision to scrap the lane - part of a trial route between Howwood and Paisley - comes after a petition against it attracted 1,500 signatures.
Councillor Steel complained it was unsafe as it was not being kept clean and debris was forcing cyclists into the road.
He told the chamber: "When something isn’t working there is no point in digging your heels in and saying it is.
"This isn’t working. Elected members from all parties have raised concerns and I think justifiably.
"Rather than encouraging people to cycle it’s had the exact opposite effect with hostility and resistance to cycling on the increase.
"Given that the lane is not being kept clean is it not usable in some places due to glass, stone and other debris.
"I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw cyclists along the car lane with an empty cycle lane beside them and drivers getting pretty angry. Everyone loses out and safety is jeopardised.
"I don’t argue with the positive intent behind it at all but the execution has not been successful."
Councillor Steel added he felt people in Johnstone and neighbouring Elderslie had not been properly consulted on the issue and stressed this should be done for future projects.
The council did carry out a consultation but it was highlighted during the meeting many people were unaware of it.
Councillor Hood, who is a cyclist, voiced his concerns about the lane before Christmas, saying: "They put the cycle lane in front of the shops on the Beith Road and they lost about 70 per cent of their business straight away. The whole set up is a death trap."
At this week's meeting, he added: "Unfortunately it’s taken Andy [Steel] a wee bit of time to come to the decision that it’s not actually working.
"I had been in contact with numerous people four or five months ago when this started regarding the fact it wasn’t going to work.
"There have been two serious incidents. An 18-year-old was knocked down at the junction of Rannoch Road and had to go to hospital and a 37-year-old was knocked off her bike.
"I don’t disagree with cycle tracks but they’ve got to be put in the right place. "
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