Prime Minister David Cameron and Olympic cyclists Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton visited Watford today to promote almost £150 million of new funding to make cycling safer.

The two Olympic gold medal winners, Watford MP Richard Harrington and Mr Cameron, cheered on young cyclists from local clubs who raced around Cassiobury Park.

Mr Cameron said: "Following our success in the Olympics, the Paralympics and the Tour de France, British cycling is riding high - now we want to see cycling soar.

"Our athletes have shown they are among the best in the world and we want to build on that, taking our cycling success beyond the arena and onto the roads, starting a cycling revolution which will remove the barriers for a new generation of cyclists.

"This Government wants to make it easier and safer for people who already cycle as well as encouraging far more people to take it up and business, local government, developers, road users and the transport sector all have a role to play in helping to achieve this."

The announcement includes a commitment from the government to cut red tape that can stifle cycle-friendly road design and to encourage changes to the way roads are built or altered.

Councils will be expected to up their game to deliver infrastructure that takes cycling into account from the design stage.

New trunk road schemes that have a significant impact on cyclists, such as junction improvements or road-widening, will be ‘cycle-proofed’ so they can be navigated confidently by the average cyclist.

Watford Observer:

Sir Chris Hoy, David Brailsford, Victoria Pendleton and Jody Cundy

Despite the launch taking place in Watford, the town is not expected to benefit from any of the £77 million set aside to improve urban cycle routes.

Instead, the money will be divided between Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Newcastle, Bristol, Cambridge, Oxford and Norwich.

Watford MP Richard Harrington said: “ I was delighted to welcome the Prime Minister to Watford today as he visited the Watford Cycle Hub and met with cyclists in Cassiobury Park.

“Having visited the Watford Cycle Hub in the past, I know that it is a great community facility, encouraging people of all ages and abilities to get involved in cycling.

“The new measures, being promoted by the Prime Minister will make a real difference locally and nationally, making it easier and safer for people to get involved in cycling.

"A year on from the Olympics there is still clearly a great legacy with people keen to get on their bikes and I am sure that the announcement today along with the work of the Watford Cycle hub will mean that this will continue in Watford for many years to come.”