PLANS for a cycling route between Heaton Park and Miles Platting have been scrapped after riders gave the thumbs down.

But campaigners are hoping the route can be changed and fresh proposals tabled.

In November, Manchester City Council asked people for their views on an idea to create a five-mile cycle route starting in Bury Old Road, Prestwich, heading south east via a number of parks.

Starting from Heaton Park Metrolink station, the route would trail through Heaton Park, towards Higher Blackley and near North Manchester General Hospital and onto Harpurhey.

There would have been cycle lanes, zones for cycles to position themselves at the front of traffic when stopping at junctions, and traffic-calming measures.

Prestwich Cllr Tim Pickstone added: "Many people, including a great number of cyclists in the Prestwich area, were very clear to the council that this was not the most appropriate route as it is a very indirect route, with a lot of steep inclines and Heaton Park itself is closed as soon as it goes dark."

The project would have been funded by the Government, but it was deemed impractical for the council to draw up an alternative plan before the spending deadline.

Cycling enthusiast Nick Hubble, who organises themed bike rides in Prestwich and is a campaigner for Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign, said: "One of the problems is that, once the funding is announced as available, the council has a very small window of time to design a scheme and, if it is not right, there is no time to table an alternative.

"The title of the funding scheme is Cycle City Ambition Grants and the key word is 'ambition'. This proposal was not very ambitious."

Cllr Pickstone added: "What is very important now is that some of this Government money is spent on improving cycling links north from Manchester city centre towards Prestwich.

"Perhaps the most logical and direct route, were it to be made safer, would be the Bury Old Road route, but people would need to be consulted."

Lead member for Manchester's Cycle City programme, Cllr Luthfur Rahman, said: "After public consultation, we have decided not to proceed with the proposal.

"However, we remain committed to supporting the ambitious target that, by 2025, 10 per cent of journeys in Greater Manchester will be made by bike.

"With this in mind, there is a clear need to enhance cycling infrastructure in north Manchester.

"Working with Transport for Greater Manchester and local residents, during the next phase of the programme, we will examine other options to achieve this."