Opposition councillors in Cumbria have expressed their frustration at a lack of clarity over when cycling schemes for the region will be delivered.

Two weeks ago Cumbria County Council finalised their proposals for walking and cycling schemes across the area, which have been put forward to the Department for Transport for consideration.

The authority is hoping to secure investments in two stages, the first being for £260,000. It is then hoped the region will benefit from a further £930,000 worth of investment.

Richard Ingram, who is the cycling mayor for Cumbria, said: "There is a problem with the cycle schemes in general, they have not been fit for purpose.

"The government should have re-written the national cycling guidance to embrace the best of continental design.”A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said there isn't a confirmed date for when final decisions will be made for Cumbria.

Councillor Peter Howlett, of the Ulverston Green Party wants to see an overall county plan devised.

He said: "There is a critical need to establish an overall county plan that aims to turn the entire road network away from car-friendly into bicycle-friendly otherwise it’s going to be piecemeal and patchy."

Labour's Anne Burns, who represents Barrow and Hindpool, has said in the past there has never been enough money for major projects, only for 'patchy cycle lanes', that do no work.

She added: "Cycling facilities are bad right around the borough, as we never had enough funding to do a proper scheme in the past.

"We were given small pots of money for cycling, that only enabled patchy bike lanes that didn’t work.

"What we ended up with, was cars parked on the cycle lanes.”

And Liberal Democrat councillor for Eden Lakes, Neil Hughes, believes a dedicated cycle connection between Penrith and Ullswater should also be part of the plans.

He said: "I and others are especially pushing for a dedicated cycle connexion between Penrith and Ullswater which could eventually create a whole loop around the lake with local agreement.”