A CYCLE lane which “leads from nowhere to nowhere” and has replaced a number of parking spaces will cost Colchester Council tens of thousands of pounds every year.

Vineyard Street car park is understood to have lost 21 of its 93 parking spaces following the installation of a new cycle lane by Essex County Council.

According to figures obtained from a Freedom of Information request submitted by Colchester High Steward Sir Bob Russell, each space generates £4,300 a year in revenue.

Annually, therefore, Colchester Council’s coffers could now be more than £90,000 worse off as a result of the 50-yard cycle lane replacing more than a fifth of spaces.

The figures released by the authority show income from the Vineyard Street car park each month ranged from £31,087 in June to £35,660 in August.

The total for the first six months of the current financial year from April to September, meanwhile, is £200,762, suggesting the full year will amount to at least £400,000.

Sir Bob said: “Colchester Council is facing serious financial problems with warnings in recent weeks of cuts in services, higher charges and job losses.

“Yet here is a diabolical own goal because of the insanity of putting a cycle lane through a car park – a cycle path which leads from nowhere to nowhere.

“Shops and businesses in Colchester are facing challenging times, but the council has made things worse by reducing parking spaces – it is utter madness.”

Sir Bob also pointed out if each parking space is used five times each day, on average 100 visits will be lost, contributing to a loss of shopping customers.

He also claims the authority did not estimate how much money it would lose before the cycle lane was given the go-ahead to be installed.

“I think city councillors should hold an urgent investigation and restore the lost 21 parking spaces,” added Sir Bob, who has also asked for the cost of the cycle lane.

“This is not a one-off loss. It is enormous and has serious consequences and should be corrected as soon as possible.”

A spokesman said: “This cycle lane is part of the Colchester East-West active travel fund scheme and forms part of our ambition to make Essex safer, greener and healthier.

“The East-West route is being created in stages in order to minimise the disruption to the Colchester town centre economy.

“There is data which shows that those on foot spend up to six times more than those who drive, and by increasing the numbers of people who walk and cycle, especially for shorter journeys, we can help reduce traffic congestion, cut air pollution and improve road safety in the city.

“When surveyed in 2021, 55 per cent of Colchester respondents agreed the active travel proposals would encourage additional walking and cycling with 66 per cent saying they would be persuaded to cycle more, particularly on safety grounds.

“Throughout the process, ECC has consulted residents and businesses as well as working closely with a local steering group made up of political and community representatives including local interest groups and members of Colchester Council.”

A spokesman for Colchester Council said: “Whilst completion of the scheme will result in the loss of 21 spaces at Vineyard Street, it is almost impossible to substantiate the loss of revenue as we anticipate motorists will be displaced to other council-run car parks in the city centre.”