OXFORD’S Lord Mayor is urging the county council to repaint faded city cycle lanes because of safety fears.

Pavements in parts of the city are split between cycle lanes and footpaths for pedestrians, but in North Oxford the dividing lines have worn away.

Now John Goddard, Liberal Democrat county councillor for Summertown and Wolvercote, is calling on the county council to repaint the lines along the pavement in Woodstock Road, near his home.

Mr Goddard, who is also a Wolvercote ward city councillor, said he had been told that repainting was on hold while a review of the system took place.

He said: “I have been asking the county council to take action on this for some time, but nothing has happened.

“The council needs to repaint the lines where it’s necessary to do so, otherwise you’re going to get confusion between cyclists and pedestrians and the potential for accidents.

“If officers want to explore the value of any other system, they must first consult the users and local councillors before making any change. Letting the markings disappear is dangerous and irresponsible.”

James Styring, chairman of Oxford cycling group Cyclox, said there were cycle lanes on pavements across the city, particularly in North Oxford, West Oxford, Botley and Headington.

He added: “Ultimately we would prefer safer cycle provision on the roads but these lanes on pavements can be useful, particularly for mums and kids and the elderly.

“If there’s a problem with the clarity of the cycle lane, then the county council should jump to it.

“Cyclists and pedestrians are perhaps further down the highways authority pecking order than drivers but this won’t cost them much more than a few pots of paint.”

Ray Jones, treasurer of the Oxford Pedestrians’ Association, said: “The county council needs to repaint lines straight away. There’s no point waiting for a review.

“The pavements are quite wide in Woodstock Road, so there’s no problem with pedestrians and cyclists sharing the space, as long as the markings are clear.”

County council spokesman Marcus Mabberley said: “Arrangements for shared and dual-use pathways vary across the county. We’re reviewing which systems would benefit all pathway users the most and no decisions have been made yet.”