A “BARMY” plan to install a 10m cycle lane in Colley Gate has been condemned as a waste of taxpayers’ money.

Cradley Action Group chairman Chris Legiewicz could not believe her eyes when she read the Dudley Council notice proposing the measly stretch of safe cycling.

She said: “It will take two months to install and involve moving a lamppost and digging up the pavement.

“Cyclists then will have to negotiate the treacherous Toys Lane junction, where you take your life in your hands, for 10m of respite before they have to negotiate buses at the bus stop.

“They have probably got the money from a grant, but what is the point – surely the money could be better spent? It’s barmy, totally ridiculous.”

”I’m all for making the roads safer for cyclists – but this will do nothing to help.”

Mrs Legiewicz said the council had spent £500 previously installing a bike rack in Colley Gate near the Toys Lane junction which is never used.

In the meantime, she said the area had become a victim of a spate of graffiti attacks, with a “tag” sprayed on shop walls and shutters.

“It’s got worse in the last three to four months and I am told the police know who it is but need to catch him in the act,” said Mrs Legiewicz, adding:

“They could spend the money from the cycle lane on cameras to catch him and to clean off the graffiti.”

Councillor Hilary Bills, cabinet member for environmental services, said the small section in cycle lane was part of a drive to improve cycling facilities across the borough and to tackle air pollution.

She said: “This small section, if approved, will form part of a bigger network of cycle facilities across the Colley Gate area and the wider borough.

“This proposal is being funded by the Department

for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and if approved will hopefully be welcomed by everyone and be implemented this financial year.”

A West Midlands Police spokesman confirmed there had been an increase in graffiti saying: “Officers from the neighbourhood team are patrolling the area and are carrying out inquiries to establish who is responsible.

“We'd encourage anyone with information about the graffiti to contact us on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.