Independent councillors for Werrington North John Fox and Steve Lane are taking to the streets on their bikes to hold two-wheeled surgeries for their constituents every Monday.

Using pedal power, they are hoping to cover the 331 hectares – more than 1.7 square miles, that makes up the ward, and are asking residents to keep an eye out for them.

The duo will be armed with notebooks and cameras to record ward concerns, and the councillors are hoping the idea will catch on across the city.

Cllr Fox said: "It's great to take the surgery out to the public, as people often don't have the time to report things with their busy lives.

"Now they can stop us and show or tell us the problems facing the neighbourhood."

He added: "It's amazing how much more you see on a bike than you would in your car, and how many more people we have actually stopped and talked to."

To give the venture a trial run, the pair teamed up with veteran councillor Charles Swift – who has never owned a car who has got to know residents in his ward by cycling around theBluebell estate in Dogsthorpe and New England – and set off from the Werrington Centre.

Cllr Fox said: "I don't feel too bad today, and it will be a great way of keeping fit.

"We did a ride-around for about an hour and a half today, and we will be aiming to do this every Monday afternoon."

Cllr Lane said: "We are just looking to reach out to the people. A lot of people don't really know what councillors' surgeries are all about, and so are sometimes a bit slow in coming forward.

"But by seeing us out and about, we are hoping they will feel more confident about approaching us with their problems."

After the trial ride, Cllr Swift extolled the benefits of this green method of transport. He said: "You can get into any nook and cranny in your ward on a bike. It's much easier than if you drive around by car. You are also saving the tax-payer in car-mileage claims."

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