New cycle lanes put in place across Harrow to encourage active travel and social distancing could be in place for up to 18 months, despite criticisms from councillors and drivers.

Harrow Council confirmed the measures in Honeypot Lane, Queensbury, Sheepcote Road, Greenhill, and Uxbridge Road, Harrow Weald, will be reviewed after six months.

This came as deputy leader Cllr Keith Ferry decided to uphold recommendations made by the council’s traffic and road safety advisory panel in relation to its ‘Streetspace’ projects.

Following this review, the cycle lanes will either be removed, maintained for a further year, or made permanent, based on the council’s assessment of their impact.

This is despite concerns raised by councillors, who called for the immediate withdrawal of the lanes in Honeypot Lane and Uxbridge Road, and several residents, who have described the set up as “shocking” and “an accident waiting to happen”.

A letter to the Harrow Times criticised the council’s decision to spend almost £60,000 allocated by Transport for London on the projects, accusing it of “wasting public funds on schemes that are a detriment to the vast majority of residents”.

Cllr Stephen Greek, who represents Harrow Weald ward, said the Uxbridge Road scheme has been “crudely installed” and will “increase traffic issues” along the road.

However, cycling groups supported the measures, with Harrow Cycle Campaign (HCC) calling for the “reorganisation of road space” in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Anoop Shah, of HCC, said this would discourage people from “switching to driving” as they look to avoid the use of public transport.

Those critical of the schemes said they recognise the need for more and better cycle lanes in Harrow, just not in the manner these have been created.