CAMPAIGNERS are disappointed a charity bike ride to support the building of a cycle path along a busy road has been cancelled because the route is “too dangerous.”

For five years residents from Eynsham, Cumnor and Botley have been campaigning for a community path to be used by walkers and cyclists along the B4044 between Eynsham and Botley.

In a bid to raise money for the path’s formal planning application to the county council, the group had organised a bike ride along the route tomorrow.

But in emails seen by the Oxford Mail, Thames Valley Police’s traffic management unit said: “Without a county road closure order I cannot see how this event can safely be executed.”

Steve Phillips, network coordinator for the county council, said he agreed with the police’s observation in an email to the group.

He wrote: “I do concur with the Police observation that there is an inherent high risk to the safety of your proposed event participants and the general public and I cannot give county approval for this activity as currently proposed.”

Ian Leggett, chairman of Bike Safe, said they were “extremely disappointed” the event had been cancelled but said the decision vindicates their campaign for a dedicated cycle path.

He said: “We have been saying this for five years.

“This is why we have been raising close to £100,000 because we believe the road is too dangerous as it is for cyclists and pedestrians to use.

“We need to have a community path to make it safer and also encourage more cyclists to use the route to be healthier and greener.

“We could have easily given up this fight years ago, but the community feel so strongly about it we will keep going until we see it through.”

Recently the group prepared a business case and gave it to the county council.

Mr Leggett added: “Using the same economic modelling tool as the Department of Transport we can show that the path’s economic benefit is of £11 million over 10 years and so the B4044 path, if built, would pay for itself three times over in the course of those 10 years.

“The B4044 path should be a priority because of the proven public demand, the sizeable economic benefit set out in the business case and because Bike Safe have brought the project using money we have raised to very nearly "shovel ready" for the county council.”

A spokesman for Oxfordshire County Council said: “We do not have the power to approve or cancel events, but we do provide feedback as we have done in this case.

“Feedback on a risk assessment is just that and not a comment on the merits or otherwise of proposals for cycle facilities.

“Following our suggestion to increase the chance of future funding being identified, Bike Safe has sent us a copy of their business case.

“We will continue to assist Bike Safe where we can to develop their business case to improve the chances of success in bidding for external funding.”

The Eynsham Fun Day will still be going ahead tomorrow, with Morris dancing starting in the square from 3pm.