Wye Valley cycle route approved (From Free Press Series)

Wye Valley cycle route approved

THE new path linking Monmouth with Symonds Yat for walkers and cyclists has been given the blessing of Monmouthshire councillors.

Despite reservations over the mix of traffic and cyclists at the Wye Bridge, the members of the Monmouthshire county planning committee approved the scheme by Sustrans, by six votes to three, with two abstentions.

The former railway line between the end of Hadnock Road, Monmouth and the Whippington Brook, which marks the Monmouthshire/Gloucestershire boundary, will be converted.

The proposed cycleway continues through Gloucestershire but does not need planning permission, and ends at Symonds Yat where the Herefordshire council gave permission last December.

Monmouthshire's head of planning George Ashworth said: "We have had quite a lot of support for this scheme from parents in the Symonds Yat area whose children attend Monmouth School, and they have said they will use the route to cycle to school."

Mr Ashworth said safety was of paramount importance and there was concern from some of the objectors about the path from Hadnock joining the dangerous junction with the Staunton Road.

But he said a number of improvements were to be made, including closure of the footpath on the south side of Wye Bridge, so the path on the north side could be doubled in width to accommodate cyclists as well as pedestrians.

Cllr Ashley Thomas said he had hoped to see a better solution at the Wye Bridge, and complained that they had not received a detailed report from highways.

Cllr Verona Bamford agreed and asked for the decision to be deferred until they had received that report.

Cllr Bill Edwards said his only reservations were that the new path would be used by motorcyclists, and the mixing together of walkers and cyclists.

Monmouth member Cllr Alan Wintle said: "It's a lovely route to walk except when cyclists come whistling past, but where will the walkers park in Monmouth when the Rowing Club has an event?"

Cllr Chris Woodhouse said it was very sad that the local members were afraid of what might happen, and he said it would be welcomed in Abergavenny.

He added: "Tourism is the biggest industry in Monmouthshire and this will bring them in. We have only a small cycle track from Abergavenny to Govilon and it is tremendously popular with walkers and cyclists. This is a splendid scheme."

Cllr Maureen Roach agreed the path would be popular with tourists and said there is now plenty of car parking space in Monmouth since the new bridge opened.