A cycle route between Adderbury and Banbury is likely to be built -- despite calls for the money to be spent on improving roads and pavements.

The cycle-way will cost £310,000 and funding is expected to be approved in the county council's 2003-2004 budget.

It will run along a 3.5km stretch of the A4260 running from Twyford, just north of Adderbury, and Bodicote, just south of Banbury.

The number of cyclists taking the route is expected to increase from 30 per day to 68 as a result of the cycleway.

However, county council leader Keith Mitchell, who represents Bloxham, opposed the scheme arguing the money could be better spent on roads and pavements in his ward. He said the public would not understand why the money was being lavished on a cycle-route instead. "I would get hung, drawn and quartered if I put my hands up in support of this," he said.

In his own written report to the committee he said the roads of Adderbury and Bodicote were crumbling.

He said: "I have to say that I drive along this road regularly and the sight of a cyclist is about as rare as a sighting of a moose!

"I am not able to vote for a scheme costing £310,000 for a tiny group of cyclists that, at best, may double from 30-something to 60-something when so much else needs to be done in these villages."

He suggested investigating a shorter form of the route.

On Tuesday, Oxfordshire County Council's executive board decided the scheme should be implemented. It will only come back before the executive for consideration if there are major concerns arising from consultation.

Executive board member Tony Crabbe said if just 38 extra cyclists used the route per day that equated to a cost of £8,150 per cyclist for the council. He said this could not be justified.