TWO long-awaited schemes to boost cycling in Winchester look unlikely to go ahead.

The schemes, at the junction of Badger Farm Road-Oliver's Battery Road and Easton Lane, Winnall, were seen as important to encourage people out of their cars.

The Oliver's Battery scheme was pencilled in for 2002-03 and was due to cost £100,000.

It included replacing a subway with traffic lights and various improvements designed to aid cyclists and wheelchair users.

The Easton Lane project was budgeted for £120,000 in 2003-04.

Both were part of a £11.2 million programme for 2002-06 that was hailed by civic chiefs as the largest programme ever seen in Hampshire.

Now campaigners are resigning themselves to the fact that both schemes could be scrapped.

John Edwards, veteran cycling activist, said: "The Oliver's Battery scheme was top of our list of schemes to improve things for cyclists and would have led to a lot more people cycling.

"At 3.30pm every day that junction is horrifically scary. Lots of parents collect children from Oliver's Battery Primary School.

"A lot have to force their way into the traffic on Badger Farm Road, across two fast streams of cars.

"There have been accidents, but I'm surprised there are not more."

Mr Edwards said the delays to both schemes were "very frustrating. In recent years there has been a lot of money spent in Winchester by the county council.

"But I fear that window of opportunity opened and has now closed. There is less money to go around."

The local county councillor Ann Bailey is pressing for the Oliver's Battery junction changes.

She was due to meet council officers and the local parish council yesterday afternoon to discuss the project.

Mrs Bailey said: "I'm keen that this junction does not become an accident black spot.

"There was a nasty crash earlier this year when the fire brigade had to cut someone free.

"Traffic lights there would act as a calming influence along that section of road back down the hill to Sainsbury's.

"The county council trumpets that it wants to encourage cycling. But this scheme is on the shelf gathering dust."

A Hampshire County Council spokesman said: "Neither scheme has been cancelled. They have gone back into a pool for consideration this year.

"Schemes will be chosen based on value for money, with priority given for those addressing safety issues."