Group have drawn up proposals which could benefit from plans by the Mayor of London

Cyclists have called on Brent Council to lobby for funding which could see a multi million pound transformation of the borough turning it into a ‘mini Holland’ cycling paradise.

Proposals have been drawn up by Brent Cyclists (BC), which outline how they think the borough could benefit from Mayor of London, Boris Johnson’s plans to improve cycling across the capital.

The suggestions, which feature in a report made by BC, include a link between Wembley Park and Neasden to combat the problems faced in crossing the railway line and North Circular Road and alterations to roundabouts and roads in the area.

In proposals outlined at the end of March, Mr Johnson said he wanted to make huge investments to the cycling network including making a ‘tube network’ for cyclists and a series of ‘mini Hollands’ in a selection of outer London boroughs.

Boroughs are encouraged to apply for funding and successful applicants will receive “very high spending concentrated on relatively small areas for the greatest

possible impact”, according to the report.

Brent Cyclists co-ordinator, David Arditti, told the Times Brent needed to improve its cycling infrastructure and called on the council to apply for funding.

He said: “Wembley is undergoing large scale regeneration at the moment and this would be the ideal opportunity to make it a great area for cyclists as well.

“We currently have extremely congested roads that are full of buses and lorries with no real cycle lanes to speak of.”

BC’s proposals also feature segregated cycle tracks along notorious traffic hotspots such as Forty Avenue and East Lane, or, where there is insufficient width, mandatory cycle lanes.

Mr Arditti, who is one of 230 members of BC, added: “We would very much like Brent Council to make a bid to transform part of Brent into one of the ‘mini Holland’s’.”

A Brent Council spokesman told the Times they had met with BC this week met with to discuss their aspirations for the Wembley and Neasden area.

He added: “This and other proposals will be reviewed and developed working in partnership with Brent Cyclists with a view to submitting a funding application to Transport for London, in line with their funding guidance.”

Also discussed in the report is the creation of a Bradley Wiggins way, a dedicated cycle route through the Kilburn and Queen’s Park areas in honour of the Kilburn born cyclist.

The Mayor of London’s Vision for Cycling also includes opening dedicated cycle routes in central London and a ‘cross-rail for bikes’.

The idea for ‘mini Hollands’ was inspired by the country’s renowned cycle friendly cities and towns.

The selected boroughs will also be provided with ‘cycling superhubs’ at train stations and alternative cycle routes to cut out the number of car journeys.

A spokesman for Brent Council added: “We have made good progress in improving the number of cycling journeys recently and we will engage with local groups with the objective of improving the borough’s cycling infrastructure and facilitating safer and higher levels of cycling across the borough.”

To read the full report from Brent Cyclists go to http://www.brentcyclists.org.uk/sites/default/files/Draft%20Cycling%20Plan%20for%20Brent.pdf