More Safe Routes for Walking and Cycling in Bridgend
More than £3.6m worth of transport and active travel improvements will be made in Bridgend County Borough over the next year thanks to grants from the Welsh Government.
A total of £3,657,980 has been awarded to Bridgend County Borough Council to fund construction work of new safe routes for pedestrians and cyclists, new active travel routes and accessibility improvements at a number of bus stops. The funding also allows the council to provide road safety and cycle training for schoolchildren, as well as Pass Plus Cymru courses for new drivers.
The active travel improvements being planned by the council include new shared pedestrian and cycling routes linking Brackla to Bridgend town centre, between Pencoed and the Pencoed Technology Park, a route connecting Coychurch with both the Waterton Industrial Estate and Retail Park, and improvements around Coity. Work on all of these schemes is due to start in October and be completed by spring 2020.
The Welsh Government funding is also enabling the council to complete the initial phase of a Safe Routes scheme around Newton Primary School. The active travel route along the Eastern Promenade has been extended through to the school along New Road, and the school is also benefiting from new cycle and scooter storage.
Councillor Richard Young, the council’s Cabinet Member for Communities said, “The new Active Travel schemes are all being created in response to demand from local residents who have told the council which routes they would like to see improved so that they can choose a healthier, greener form of travel for shorter everyday journeys as part of their daily routine. An extensive active travel network is gradually taking shape in the county borough.