RESIDENTS and town groups are fighting a fresh push for a cycle path across Beverley Westwood.
East Riding Council's previous move for a cycleway alongside the B1230 sparked protests that it would "urbanise" the common land.
Officials want to widen an existing footpath to make the Beverey-to-Walkington route safer for cyclists.
The council, which first raised the idea in 2012, is proposing a land swap to replace the required roadside strip.
Land at Longcroft School, which borders the Westwood, would be added to the pasture in exchange.
This has been agreed by Beverley's Pasture Masters, who manage the Westwood, subject to an ancient hedge being removed by the council.
But residents fear the land-swap could create a precedent, threatening the future of the common.
Town resident Kieran Sheehan said: "It is my opinion there is much more resting on this than at first appears.
"I believe East Riding Council in pursuing this matter, is determined to set a precedent whereby agricultural land in another parish, say Bishop Burton, can be swapped for developable land on the other side of the commons, bordering Beverley.
"Why else would a cash-strapped local authority be pursuing such a trivial case? If a cost-benefit analysis were carried out it would make no sense."
Father-of-two Mr Sheehan, whose family are keen cyclists, claimed there are busier routes more in need of a cycle path – including the A1079 York Road across the Westwood.
He said: "Why pursue the construction of a cycle lane along the B1230 when there are no plans to install one on the much busier York Road, a much-used commuter route between Beverley and one of the town's major employers, Bishop Burton College?
"Why are there lines delineating cycle lanes on the carriageway in Beverley, on much busier roads, yet this option cannot be exercised on the B1230?"
Mr Sheehan, an environmental consultant, said the council itself would be making the planning decision on the removal of the ancient hedge to facilitate the land-swap at Longcroft.
He said: "In other words, they will be applying to themselves to remove the hedge. Such behaviour by a public authority is scandalous and makes a mockery of our legal system.
"All this before the Defra land team has even made a decision on the legality of the land swap proposal."
Beverley Civic Society and the Open Spaces Society have also raised concerns, which could prompt a public inquiry.
Pasture Masters chairman Allan English said: "This would be just a one-off, it would not set a precedent for land-swaps. We agreed to the cycleway if the council gives us the equivalent land back, subject to the hedge removal.
"We are only allowing the cycle track for safety reasons, there's already a footpath there."
'Final link in a network of cycle routes'
The proposed cycle track alongside the busy B1230 is the final link in a network of routes connecting Beverley to nearby villages.
The B1230 is a busy, narrow road, which is currently unattractive to cyclists due to the speed and volume of traffic.
The new cycle path will provide a dedicated facility for all cyclists, resulting in a safe and continuous off-road route segregated from traffic.
This will be particularly beneficial for many local children from the age of 11 who would be able to safely make the journey from Walkington to their secondary schools in Beverley.
The current footway is in poor condition and the proposed scheme would include completely resurfacing the current path and widening the path by an average of 50cm.
The improved surface would also provide better access for those with mobility issues and visual impairment.
The path will encourage local residents to access the common using sustainable, healthy transport modes and will allow a wide range of users to enjoy the beautiful open space offered by the Westwood.
The route has already been assessed by a planning inspector who visited the site in July 2012.
Subsequent to that approval, the council was advised that, as approximately 710sqm would need to be deregistered from the common to provide the minor widening of the footway, an equivalent area of land should be offered in exchange to ensure that the total area of the registered common was not reduced.
