THIRSK Town Council has decided to stand by its decision to back the route of a new cycleway being created on Stockton Road.

Work has started on the track and several local people have objected, saying they suggested a different route on the edge of the roadway during consultation last year.

A footpath already exists and it is this which is being widened to form the cycleway.

Councillors heard that out of about 100 consultation leaflets issued, only 19 people had replied.

Eight were in favour of the cycleway and two in favour of the present path being extended.

Staff from North Yorkshire County Council's engineering department held a site meeting with objectors, who said that wide green verges in front of their houses would be spoiled, and that reversing out of their drives would be hazardous to cyclists.

In a letter to the town council, the county council said that the verge cycleway had been chosen because Stockton Road was a dedicated townspace area.

It was felt that to add a second stretch of tarmac would detract from it.