While off-road cyclists and commuters have been enjoying Watford's new cycle access along the Grand Union Canal towpath, people living nearby have been fearing for their own safety.

Barbara Brockhurst lives between the Hunton Bridge to Kings Langley stretch of the tow path and has encountered a number of issues since the instalment of the new cycle path. 

She said: "This problem has been going on for three or four years, and it's even worse now with the new cycle track. The path bends round my cottage, which means cyclists have reduced visibility going round the corner, and we have no vehicle access to our cottage so we have to walk along the path.

"I bought my own speed gun to see how fast people were going and found that some cyclists were travelling past at 20mph."

Mrs Brockhurst said she has been knocked over by cyclists five times, and while she has requested gates or barriers be put up to force cyclists to slow down and dismount, the Canal and Rivers Trust has refused her suggestion. 

Mrs Brockhurst and her partner, Chris Brown, also pointed out six danger points when passing their cottage to CRT before the new highway was laid. Initially, the couple say the on-site engineer appeared to agree with them, marking out a much narrower cycle path. But when the couple returned home one evening, they found the path much wider.

James Clifton, from the CRT, said: "Working in partnership with Hertfordshire county, Watford borough and Three Rivers District Councils we have made significant improvements to the towpath so that it can be enjoyed by the many people that visit the waterways each year. 

"We encourage cyclists to share the towpath space and we are working on a new Code of Conduct to encourage considerate use of the towpath so it can be safely enjoyed by everyone.

"We have had serveral meetings with the resident to discuss her concerns and as a result we have incorporated a number of measures, including advance warning signs encouraging cyclists to slow down.

"Barriers would be a last resort as they can restrict access to the towpath for people such as those in wheelchairs and parents with pushchairs."

Mrs Brockhurst said: "Cyclists don't take any notice of signs. I'm taking my life into my own hands because I don't know what's coming round that corner."