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Welsh Government accused of “riding roughshod" over its own Active Travel Act

Campaigners say bypass plans make active travel an afterthought

Welsh cycling campaign groups are accusing the Welsh Government of “riding roughshod" over the Welsh Government's Active Travel Act with plans for a 125m Caernarfon and Bontnewydd bypass.

Sustrans Cymru, Ramblers Cymru and Cycling UK are urging the Welsh Government to consider changing current proposals that "risk safety" and do not provide enough provision for walking and cycling.

The Welsh Government wants to build a new six mile (10km) road to help ease congestion on the A487 between Plas Menai and Llanwnda.

Glyn Evans from Sustrans Cymru said the route "cuts across a number of important walking and cycling routes" and, as it stands, "will make it harder and more dangerous for people going to and from work or school, running an everyday errand, or enjoying the beautiful countryside”, according to the BBC.

He added: “Once the inquiry is complete, its findings are clear and the Welsh Government has responded ,we will consider our options. This is in many ways a test case of how the Act will be implemented. We will continue to work with local residents to help ensure the best possible outcome for walking and cycling.”

He added that suitable active travel provision for the bypass might cost around £5m – “well under 5% of the overall scheme cost”.

“The main point, and one that would help to reduce these costs, is that active travel is planned in from the very early stages of schemes and not seen as an expensive add on.”

A public inquiry is now under way and should a decision be reached to go ahead, construction on the new bypass could begin in the autumn.

 

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7 comments

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ChrisB200SX | 6 years ago
1 like

One eighth of a billion pounds for a six mile road where adequate roads already exist... Seems like a good use of taxpayer's money.

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Simon E replied to ChrisB200SX | 6 years ago
0 likes

ChrisB200SX wrote:

One eighth of a billion pounds for a six mile road where adequate roads already exist... Seems like a good use of taxpayer's money.

It's about supporting the economy! We need more roads!

All those squillions of pounds are an investment - so the Cheshire set in their Range Rover / Cayenne don't have to slow down from 70 mph to go through Caernarfon and Bontnewydd on the way to their exclusive Llŷn holiday property.

And not forgetting the swarms of white van drivers delivering your Amazon or Wiggle order.

Avatar
horizontal dropout | 6 years ago
0 likes

How did bendertherobot reply to a post by jh27 2hours before jh27 wrote it?

 

Edited: Aah! Answering own question - because jh27 edited his own question later.

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bendertherobot | 6 years ago
0 likes

Neither, it's £125 million.

As I've said before about the Active Travel Act there are get outs and caveats. Considering and doing what is reasonable.

https://roubaixcycling.cc/2016/05/11/the-start-of-the-active-travel-jour...

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jh27 | 6 years ago
1 like

"... plans for a 125m Caernarfon and Bontnewydd bypass."

That is either a very short (125 metre) or very long (125 mile) bypass.

*Edit: of course!!! It's 125 metre wide, don't know why I didn't see that right away.

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brooksby | 6 years ago
6 likes

"Government ignores its own guidelines when the result would be expensive/inconvenient ".  Who could have imagined it...?

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Edgeley replied to brooksby | 6 years ago
1 like

brooksby wrote:

"Government ignores its own guidelines when the result would be expensive/inconvenient ".  Who could have imagined it...?

 

 

Would it be easier to list the schemes that actually comply with transport authorities' own policies?

 

Here in Oxford we have the County Council kindly and rightly listing its premier cycling routes through the city, as part of its commitment to active travel.   One of them is Queen Street, in which cycling is forbidden.

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