WESTBURY Wheelers are trying to raise awareness of the lack of cycle routes in the area, which they say is creating a danger to safety when out biking.

The group of about 150 members, aged from 14 to the elderly, are hoping to get more people cycling in the town.

Chairman and member Grace Shephard said: “We’re looking at more routes from Warminster to Westbury and Westbury to Trowbridge. There is a distinct lack of cycle tracks but not necessarily in the town. It’s about getting through them, but we ride for fun.

“Because of climate change there is no better way to go than linking the cycle routes.

“In this current climate, with new priorities of combating obesity and climate change, should we not have the choice of commuting the modest distances between local towns safely by bike?

“The few ways to cycle between Warminster and Westbury are difficult: the resurfacing of the A350 between Warminster and Westbury has only made things worse for cyclists. The edge of the road has now become rough and just unrideable, forcing us to ride in the fast-moving traffic.

"Unfortunately a surprising number of motorists believe we should be riding on the other side of the white edge line which, although is not the case, makes some drivers pretty aggressive.

“All in all the recent surfacing of this stretch of the A350 is a particularly unsatisfactory job. In fact there would be plenty of room, and it would have been a sensible option, to put in a cycle path at the same time as doing the other work.”

There are no plans for a cycle path to be built on the road. Cllr Bridget Wayman, cabinet member for highways, said: “We are aware of issues with the new road surface and our contractors will be carrying out repairs to resolve these. The repairs must be carried out during favourable weather conditions, which are usually between April and September, and the work should be complete by the end of June. In the meantime our contractor is continuing to monitor the road and undertaking sweeping at regular intervals.

“Appropriate testing was carried out to ensure this surface dressing was suitable for the road and our contractor removed the very poor areas of carriageway earlier in the year in preparation for the surface dressing treatment.