Pedestrians have come out on top in a battle which would have allowed cyclists to race along a section of pavement.

Kignston Council planners said there was enough room for both bicycles and walkers to share the path in Old Norbiton Road between Cambridge Road and Birkenhead Avenue.

Traffic engineer Younes Hamade said: “We want to encourage new cyclists to take away the fear from traffic to bring them to change their mode of travel.” But residents said if the cycle path was 1.5 metres wide there would be less than 1.5 metres left for pedestrians.

Protestor Denise Booth, who lives in Norbiton Hall, said: “There’s no way people walking normally can walk two abreast.

“There’s no way people with double buggies can push along with their toddler walking by their side because a toddler would have to walk in front or behind.”

Kingston town councillors voted along party lines on Wednesday, June 17, with the Liberal Democrats voting in favour of the cycle path but Tories voting against and carrying the vote.

After the meeting Mrs Booth said: “I’m absolutely delighted. It was a fight since we got the first letter three days before Christmas so nobody read the letter.

“It would have been dangerous to cyclists as well.”

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