Posted on: Thursday 10 August 2023
Nearly half a million pounds will be spent on two key projects to improve active travel in the borough.
Torfaen Council has secured £420,000 Welsh Government active travel funding for the Oakfield Active Travel network scheme which will include 400 metres of new walking and cycling route around the other two sides of the recreation ground. This will complement the new 180 metre long 3m wide shared use walking and cycling path which has been constructed from Court Farm Road Oakfield to the school along the edge of the recreation ground.
The council has also secured £50,000 Safer Routes in Communities funding to carry out an assessment of roads and streets outside all Torfaen schools. This will aim to identify opportunities to improve road safety, such as restricting vehicle access during school start and finish times.
Additional funding has also been awarded for smaller projects such as dropped kerbs, new bike racks and benches, and the identification and design of future projects.
It comes as last year’s work to widen the 600 metres of path along Edlogan Way in Cwmbran has been completed to make it easier for pedestrians and cyclists to use the route.
The work included resurfacing the path, replacing the old crossing with a new Toucan crossing, improving other crossing points, and installing new benches and bike racks at the local shops and school. The first part of the route was completed at the end of the Covid restrictions, and together with the most recent work, over 1km of Edlogan Way has been upgraded.
Work along the Cwmbran Drive active travel route also took place last year, which included improving the path from Grove Park roundabout to Pontnewydd Working Mens Club (near Aldi roundabout). This involved widening the narrow footpath alongside the main road to become a 3m wide shared use walking and cycling route over a length of 1.2km. Phase 2 of this project will cover Grove Park up to Bevans Lane. This phase is being designed using the newly awarded funding for 2023-24.
Councillor Mandy Owen, Executive member for the Environment, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Welsh Government for once again awarded us this funding. It really makes a difference to our active travel networks and helps us to plan for more in the future.
“We are committed to reducing climate change and improving residents' mental health and well-being, and being able to offer more active travel routes we hope that residents can ditch the car more and get outside in the fresh air.
“We know not everyone can actively travel all of the time, but by cutting down the odd car or bus journey can really make a difference to the environment.”
Find out more about active Travel in Torfaen.
Active travel supports the Council’s County plan by connecting people and communities, socially, digitally, and physically. Read more about the County Plan.