Teddington roads including Strawberry Vale will be made more cycle-friendly in 2022, Richmond Council have confirmed.

The cycle upgrades will be made to the Manor Road, Twickenham Road, and Strawberry Vale A310 which links Teddington with Twickenham.

These roads will get wider cycle lanes, street furniture separating cycle lanes from the road, and double yellow line waiting restrictions 'at any time.'

16 car parking spaces will be lost and some moved to be partly on the pavement to allow the changes to be made.

Richmond Council approved the plans at a Council meeting last week on 13 September.

A Council report stated that the majority of respondents on the consultation were in favour of the scheme.

But concerns were raised over the impact on parking spaces, general streetscape and pedestrian crossing facilities.

The Council is now exploring the options of a controlled parking zone and more pedestrian crossings.

During construction unnecessary street furniture will be removed and traffic islands will be enhanced.

A consultation on the plans earlier this year had mixed reactions from local residents.

Brian Holder, Teddington Society Roads & Transport Group Leader, told Nub News he was disappointed with the consultation process and didn't believe that the roads needed the changes.

He said: "My immediate reaction to the scheme is that it is not necessary, and money would be better spent on building a new Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge over the Thames just below Eel Pie Island to join Ham and Twickenham with major economic benefits for both sides.

"This was a long standing policy of the Borough's Cycle Liaison Group, and subsequently adopted by the Teddington Society and others."

But local cyclist Jack Fifield, who lives in Twickenham, called the plans "momentous."

In an article for Teddington Nub News he praised the upgrades as being key to ensure cyclist safety and confidence.

"Finally, there will be a way for those of all cycling abilities to travel between Teddington Lock and Strawberry Hill safely, giving people of all ages the freedom to independently explore their own area on one of the healthiest and greenest modes of transport invented," he said.

But he added that he wanted to see the cycle improvements rolled out to more roads and two-way cycle tracks instead of lanes.

Following the Council's approval of the plans, Cllr Alexander Ehmann, Chair of the Transport and Air Quality Committee for Richmond Council, said: "This road is one of the top strategic cycle routes in London, yet the existing cycle measures along Strawberry Vale fall short of the infrastructure that would encourage a wide range of cyclists to use the route.

"That is why we believe it is so critical to improve the provision along this route.

"This Council is extremely grateful for the levels of support from residents for making these changes.

"We look forward to the installation of the improvements, including extensive resurfacing works on Strawberry Vale, which will benefit all road users."

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