So, it may come as a surprise that one Reform-controlled council has recently proved vocal in celebrating the completion of a new cycle lane project, which the party\u2019s local politicians say has resulted in \u201centhused usage\u201d and will lead to a \u201csafer and greener environment for everyone\u201d.<\/p>\n
Last week, representatives from North Northamptonshire Council, which Reform wrested control from the Conservatives at this year\u2019s local elections, attended the official opening of a new 1.5km cycle route in Corby, connecting the railway station to the town centre.<\/p>\n
![\"Reform-led](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/corby-station-link-route-opening-800x450.jpg\" "\\"Reform-led")
Reform-led council opens new Station Link cycle route in Corby (credit: North Northamptonshire Council)<\/p>\n
The council says the protected bike lane, work on which began in July 2024, will provide a safe, well-lit route for commuters and students cycling to nearby Tresham College.<\/p>\n
The project features new and improved crossings, segregated cycleways and footways facilities where possible, resurfacing works, and improvements to drainage and lighting. CCTV cameras will also be installed along the route in early 2026.<\/p>\n
The works were financed through the previous Conservative government\u2019s Towns Fund, which awarded Corby \u00a319.9m for four large-scale projects, including the cycle route, a new sixth form college, monitors to measure air quality and traffic flow, and an as-yet unfinished community hub. The final cost for cycle lane was estimated to be \u00a38.3m, \u00a3600,000 under the original \u00a38.9m budget.<\/p>\n
However, that still hasn\u2019t prevented the path from attracting criticism from some angry locals, who have complained to the council about the impact of the 17-month-long works on congestion in the town. Meanwhile, the cost of the scheme was also criticised on local Facebook groups this week, and some residents claimed that they \u201cvery rarely see anyone use\u201d the new bike route.<\/p>\n
![\"Reform-led](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/corby-cycle-lane-2.jpg\" "\\"Reform-led")
Reform-led council opens new Station Link cycle route in Corby (credit: North Northamptonshire Council)<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the cycle path has received universal praise from North Northamptonshire\u2019s Reform contingent, who have branded the route \u201cexcellent\u201d and key to \u201chelping to foster healthier lifestyle choices in more accessible pathways for walking and cycling\u201d in Corby, while noting that it has already upped the number of people cycling in the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was great to come together with partners and stakeholders to celebrate this excellent project,\u201d Jan O\u2019Hara, the council\u2019s Executive Member for Planning and Economic Growth, said in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhilst engaging with students at Tresham College, it is gratifying to see enthused usage and indeed the new paths are proving beneficial, with pupils using the cycle route to travel to and from the College.<\/p>\n
\u201cProjects like this bring enormous benefits to the local area and away from the main cycle path, the wider scheme has also seen roads resurfaced, an underpass filled into to reduce anti-social behaviour and provide safer routes, together with the addition of new benches, bins and shelters, the area is helping to foster healthier lifestyle choices in more accessible pathways for walking and cycling.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019d like to take this opportunity to thank residents and road users for their patience whilst works have been undertaken and encourage residents to continue to use the new route.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Martin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/martin-griffiths-reform-uk.jpg\" "\\"Martin")
Martin Griffiths, Reform UK (credit: North Northamptonshire Council)<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, council leader Martin Griffiths \u2013 who back in May claimed that new zero was not a matter for local councils but was instead a \u201cglobal matter\u201d that was \u201cmaking everyone poorer\u201d \u2013 said the new cycle lane would usher in a \u201cgreener environment\u201d in Corby.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a vital link for residents and visitors alike, including students from Tresham College. It\u2019s great to see people already using the route, and we hope that usage continues to grow,\u201d Griffiths said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this project is about more than just a cycle path. We\u2019ve made significant improvements to the local area, and by early 2026 we\u2019ll be adding the finishing touches, including new CCTV cameras and the planting of 275 trees across Corby, creating a safer and greener environment for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
But what do other Reform politicians think about cycling?<\/p>\n
As noted above, the universal praise for Corby\u2019s new cycle lane among Reform\u2019s councillors is a far cry from the party\u2019s usual position on bike-related infrastructure in other parts of the country.<\/p>\n
In September, we reported that progress on a long-awaited cycle route between Kenilworth and Leamington Spa was in danger of being halted after the Reform-run Warwickshire County Council announced that it is conducting a county-wide review into whether cycle lanes are \u201cactually worth it.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Despite widespread public support for the proposed three-mile route, Reform council leader George Finch suggested the scheme could be subject to review.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will have to look at whether the review of the cycle lanes start there, whether we finish that project because the money is there or do reviews elsewhere \u2013 maybe in Weddington or other places across Warwickshire \u2013 to see whether cycle lanes are actually being used,\u201d he told a press conference.<\/p>\n >\u00a0Reform council leader halts bike lane plans and announces county-wide review to see if they\u2019re \u201cactually worth it\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Finch also said the council would not be \u201ccrazily putting down cycle lanes\u201d as it did not believe this was \u201cbest for the residents.\u201d He claimed cycling schemes were unlikely to solve either congestion or climate change, which he described as a \u201ccrisis they seem to fathom up\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cAs an administration, we believe the addiction to cycle lanes doesn\u2019t solve the crisis that they seem to fathom up, the climate change crisis,\u201d Finch said. \u201cWhat we do see is when it comes to congestion on roads, cycle lanes are not the most sensible option, which is why you have seen a change in the political sphere here.\u201d<\/p>\n And in September, a Reform party councillor in Derbyshire branded cycling and walking routes in the Peak District \u201ctinkering around with pleasantries\u201d<\/a> and urged the county\u2019s council to instead prioritise railway infrastructure and journeys.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a country that is really struggling at the moment, we need to get back to manufacturing,\u201d Reform member David Harvey argued. \u201cThis year is the 200th anniversary of the Stockton to Darlington railway, designed by George Stephenson, who is buried in Chesterfield.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was one of the great British engineers and we need to make Britain great once again. We need to be at the forefront of developing, engineering, manufacturing, technology, that is what we are really good at and we must bring this back.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is all very well having cycling and walking paths through the Peak District \u2013 it is very nice, I have done it myself, but we must have a focus on growing the economy.\u201d<\/p>\n >\u00a0What to expect for cycling if Reform UK get into power<\/a><\/p>\n In April, ahead of what turned out to be a very successful local election campaign, the party\u2019s leader Nigel Farage appeared on BBC Breakfast to argue that councils were prioritising projects such as bike lanes<\/a> and climate departments over essential services, accusing them of mismanaging public funds.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look at where they spend the money \u2014 tens of millions being spent on cycle lanes that no one uses, huge departments of people dealing with climate change, but all people really want are proper, well-run local services,\u201d the former UKIP leader said.<\/p>\n Following the party\u2019s big electoral gains, former chair Zia Yusuf pledged to remove all low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) from the areas it now controls \u2013 only for the local authorities in question to confirm that they do not, in fact, currently have any of the traffic-calming schemes in place, a gaffe that prompted opponents to brand Reform \u201cutterly clueless about how to run a council\u201d<\/a>.<\/p>\n However, despite Reform\u2019s often hostile anti-cycling rhetoric and ability to target active travel initiatives as one of their many wedge issues, Active Travel England chief Chris Boardman has said that he remains hopeful that cycling and walking will remain high on the list of priorities for local authorities and regional mayors<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the rise of Reform has certainly got people nervous because it\u2019s getting the headlines,\u201d Boardman told road.cc earlier this year.<\/p>\n![\"Commuters](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/commuters-and-nigel-farage.jpg\" "\\"Commuters")
Commuters and Nigel Farage (credit: Various)<\/p>\n
![\"Chris](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/f7xouf8wkaaoxwi.jpg\" "\\"Chris")
Chris Boardman (credit: Active Travel England)<\/p>\n