A CONTROVERSIAL cycle lane along one of Bolton's key routes is set to come under the microscope again.

The Chorley New Road initiative was halted last March, amid a wave of criticism, ranging from safety concerns to congestion.

'Orca' wands marking out the £274,000 cycle lane were also dismissed as 'an eysore'.

Cllr Stuart Haslam, highways and transport cabinet member, will tomorrow run the rule over the scheme after another public consultation exercise.

Sixty-eight per cent of those residents surveyed expressed dissatisfaction with the concept, according to a council report.

But Cllr Haslam has been warned that ditching the idea could lead to the Department for Transport recouping their investment in the initiative.

While an estimated £100,000 could be recouped by reusing the wands elsewhere in the borough, the lost funding would mean other highways ambitions being curtailed.

John Kelly, the borough's assistant highways director, said: While the consultation has identified a strong level of opposition to the principle of roadspace, re allocation and the application of wand orcas along this section of the A673 corridor, the survey, provides an indication that cyclists are using the corridor more, as well as an increased perception of safety for cyclists.