New active travel route plan sparks safety fears

A NEW cycle route planned for Bridgend could lead to accidents, it has been claimed.

Bridgend council wants to install a permanent active travel route along Cowbridge Road but some residents think it would be unsafe for cyclists and pedestrians.

And Conservative councillor Lyn Walters believes the new route is “an accident waiting to happen”.

A temporary active travel route was introduced on Cowbridge Road in November linking Coychurch roundabout with the town centre.

The council now plans to install a permanent route, funded by Welsh Government grants, with safer crossings at the York Road junction with Bridgend Industrial Estate.

If approved, the new route would connect to a new pedestrian and cycle route that is being developed at Waterton roundabout.

Cllr Walters said the temporary route “caused a lot of upset” among residents and there were “a lot of near misses” among cyclists, drivers and pedestrians.

The Oldcastle representative said there are elderly people living along Cowbridge Road who are “terrified to come out of their front doors” out of fear of being hit by cyclists because the pavement there is too narrow.

She also said the route is used often by children walking to school and she worries they could be hit by cyclists.

A public consultation on the new route will end on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the council said the new route “forms an important part of a network of active travel routes across the county borough”.

“This will provide a link to the Brocastle active travel route on the A48, as well as a number of pedestrian routes in the area, providing safe crossing facilities where there are none at the moment,” they added.

“The consultation... is being conducted in line with the appropriate guidance and residents living along the road have received a letter and drawing of the proposed route with an invitation to share their views.

“All comments will be taken into consideration when the final design of the route is drawn up.”