£331,000 Welshpool pavement job ‘just the start’

A controversial scheme that has widened the pavements on Severn Road is just the start of a bigger project to encourage Welshpool to walk and cycle more, the county council has explained.

After five months and a £331,000 grant from the Welsh Government, the project has been described as the “first phase” by the council with plans to transform Welshpool into a cycle and pedestrian-friendly town.

The project has been branded as a waste of money by many readers when we published that it was completed last week, particularly as it wasn’t asked for at a time when other services are being cut or stopped.

But the council has come out with a positive message about the investment which supports the Welsh Government’s bid to turn Wales into a “walking and cycling nation”.

Here is the full statement issued in support of the work by Powys County Council last night:

“Work has finished on the first phase of the active travel scheme in Welshpool, which is part of a wider project to create a local active travel network that would enable more journeys to be undertaken by foot or bicycle within the town.

“The first phase which has seen the existing path widened to become a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians has enhanced safety for all users but particularly for families and pupils going to and from Ysgol Gymraeg y Trallwng and commuters using the train station.

“This project has been made possible thanks to a Welsh Government Active Travel grant worth £331,000 and support from Transport for Wales.

“The Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 aims to make Wales a walking and cycling nation and the council is undertaking multiple projects every year to improve or construct new paths to enable more journeys to be undertaken by foot and bicycle in the county. This route in Welshpool was identified during stakeholder engagement and public consultation on the county’s Active Travel Network Maps.

“Welsh Government have made it clear that walking and cycling must be the natural mode of choice for short everyday journeys, or as part of a longer journey in combination with other sustainable modes, and the continued investment into practical active travel routes within Powys will help us achieve this vision.

“Not only do these routes improve road, pedestrian and cyclist safety, they also provide us with the opportunity to improve our health and wellbeing by being more active, as well as contributing to reducing emissions and combating the current climate emergency by enabling us to prioritise walking and cycling, rather than using the car, for short, local journeys.”