£3m funding for active travel and safe route network improvements

BRIDGEND County Borough Council has revealed plans for improvements across its active travel and safe route network after being awarded more than £3m in funding for 2021-22.

This includes £1.8m from the Welsh Government Active Travel Fund for phase two of the Bridgend to Pencoed active travel route.

Improvements are planned to the York Road/Cowbridge Road junction and works will be carried out on the routes linking Waterton with Bridgend town centre along Cowbridge Road, a section on which public engagement exercise has just ended, Felindre and Pencoed College, and Coychurch roundabout.

When completed, the route will offer a seamless link between Bridgend town and Pencoed, with the potential to improve active travel access to businesses, schools, colleges and railway stations.

In addition, there are plans to create a safer route for pupils, parents and staff walking or cycling to Litchard and Coety primary schools under the Coity community access plan programme.

Enhanced lighting and improvements are planned for the footbridge over the railway at St Georges Avenue, and a new pavement and crossing point will be created on Heol Simonston. There are also plans to install new speed limit signs and resurface footways.

The scheme will link into the county borough’s wider active travel network and aims to encourage active travel journeys to Litchard Primary School, Coety Primary School and Wildmill railway station, and within the village of Coity.

Meanwhile, work is due to begin on improvements to the active travel route between Pyle and Porthcawl.

These include new road crossings, minor resurfacing works, the introduction of a 20mph zone and traffic calming measures.

Improvements are planned for cyclists and pedestrians travelling between Bettws and Bryngarw Country Park route, which will help them to link to the wider network.

Feasibility studies are due to be carried out into active travel links between the Coychurch and Waterton roundabouts, Princess of Wales Hospital and Bridgend town centre, Pontycymer and Bettws, and Pencoed College into Rhondda Cynon Taf, which was raised by residents taking part in the Bridgend County Borough Council’s active travel consultation earlier this year.

The council is also undertaking an audit of pedestrian crossings in areas of concern mentioned in the consultation.

For more information about active travel, visit Bridgend County Borough Council’s website.