Cyclists will have to dismount from their bikes and walk across Portinscale Bridge in a ruling by Cumbria County Councillors.

Members of the County Council Local Committee for Allerdale went against officer advice and decided to ban cyclists from peddling across the footbridge in Keswick.

Councillors at a meeting on Friday, heard four different proposals for traffic restrictions in Keswick.

These included introducing a prohibition of cycling along the bridge, bringing in a no waiting at any time restriction, introducing an extension of the double yellow lines at the junction of a new development on Crosthwaite Road and an extension of double yellow lines along Ambleside Road.

Having received objections from cyclists, officers recommended that a ban on cycling on Portinscale Footbridge should be abandoned and the committee allow officers to investigate other alternatives, such as a “share with care” scheme.

However, councillors disagreed and voted to prohibit cycling on the bridge.

Councillor Alan Johnson said: “Sorry I disagree, it’s been on my parish for the last five years. While I don’t want to ban cyclists it’s a footbridge and the aggressiveness of some of the cyclists is unbelievable.

“So I’m for banning cyclists riding on the footbridge.”

Councillor Tony Lywood agreed, saying: “There is already a sign up saying to dismount and no one is going to police it. I will be supportive of prohibition of cyclists on this.”

Councillor Tony Markley said: “When you’ve got cyclists and kids there it’s not right, I can understand officers’ views, but it’s about safety.”

Chairman, councillor Alan Barry added: “Our job is to keep people safe and I don’t think there is any other option than to dismount at either end to go across that footbridge.”

While there was support for the other proposals, it was agreed cyclists should dismount at either end of the bridge and walk with bikes.