One of the key phases of Kingston’s £33 million mini-Holland cycling project is now running almost a year behind schedule.

Kingston’s original bid for the multi-million-pound cycling grant shows the River Boardway running on the Thames alongside Riverside Walk and connecting with the currently-under-construction Portsmouth Road path to the town centre.

Plans for the third phase of the project were meant to go to public consultation at the beginning of January but Kingston Council has said they will not be ready until at least the end of the year.

The River Boardway remains a landmark project on the London Mayor’s website and is being used to advertise the entire mini-Holland, which spans three boroughs.

Proposals for the riverside path have already been subject to complaints from river users.

Steve Collins, chairman of the River Users Group, said: “The riverside is busy in the summer and susceptible to flooding in the winter when the river runs high. People have an emotional attachment to the riverside in Kingston and do not come to watch cyclists riding up and down it.”

Mr Collins will be presenting a petition from the River Users Group to the Kingston residents committee on February 9.

Kingston was one of three London boroughs awarded mini-Holland funding by Boris Johnson in 2013 and the project has already been subject to delays, with work only beginning on the first phase in Portsmouth Road in December 2015.

Nick Davies, representing Kingston Cycling Group, said that he agreed with the plans in principle but could “not really comment” until final designs were released.

He said: “In principle the Boardway seems like a good idea as there is presently no safe 'eight to 80' route for people on bikes heading through, or into, Kingston town centre.

“The Boardway, if well designed, has the potential to provide this and also to enhance the river frontage for the benefit of all. Until we know more about the proposals, however, we can’t really comment.”

Cllr Terry Paton said: “This is a positive delay that illustrates our commitment to listening to the community and reassessing our proposals. The consultation for the River Boardway has been put on hold to allow for engagement with stakeholders and further analysis to take place.

“I’d like to point out that this shifts the entire timeline of the project, as we now anticipate undertaking public consultation towards the end of this year. It is thought the earliest any construction could take place is mid-to-late 2017.”