COUNCIL leader Cllr Terry O'Neill has claimed 'you shouldn't believe what you read in the papers' – after being questioned over an official council statement.

As revealed in the Warrington Guardian earlier this month, a total of £160,000 – from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) awarded by the Department for Transport in 2012 – was spent on an 'unviable' Brompton bike hire scheme before it was scrapped last year.

The bike hire project was launched in the town on July 31, 2013.

It allowed people to borrow a folding cycle from three venues – Warrington Central, Warrington Bank Quay and Birchwood railway stations – for £2.50 for 24 hours with a ‘frequent membership’.

As previously reported, a council spokesman said the 'main reason' for the scheme being scrapped 'was a series of technological, operational and management issues which collectively affected the ease of use of the scheme'.

During Monday's full council meeting, former council leader Cllr Ian Marks raised the matter with Cllr O'Neill (LAB – Burtonwood and Winwick).

He said: "Following the folding of the Brompton cycle hire scheme, which was proudly launched by the leader, what does this waste of £160,000 of public money tell us about the coherence of our local cycling strategy?"

Cllr O'Neill replied: "The LSTF programme also provided many new stretches of cycling infrastructure, which have proved to be very popular.

"Bike hire was never intended to be a cornerstone of the council's cycling strategy.

"The current review of the local transport plan will place particular emphasis on cycling and, as part of this, there are ambitious plans to build on the existing network."

But Cllr Marks (LD – Lymm North and Thelwall) pressed the issue further.

He said: "I welcome those cycling initiatives.

"But, a council spokesman is reported to have said, and I quote from one of the local newspapers: 'The main reason for the close down was a series of technological, operational and management issues which collectively affected the ease and use of the scheme'.

"So, my supplementary question is, what are these issues, what can we learn from them and do they include the safety risk of attempting to cycle in places like Bridge Foot?"

The leader thanked Cllr Marks for his additional questions but had a dig at the press – despite the statement coming from the council.

He said: "I basically think you shouldn't believe what you read in the papers."