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New Route will Help Link Up Swansea Communities

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Two Swansea communities are set to be linked up by a new walking and cycle route.

Work has started on a 1.4km off-road cycle route between Gowerton and Kingsbridge.

The new route, when finished, will provide an important link between the two communities in the north of Swansea, linking up with the existing National Cycle Network Route 4 to offer onward travel to destinations all over Swansea Bay. The route will also offer school children a safe walking and cycling route to and from school.

Swansea Council is aiming to complete the first phase of the scheme by March 2020 after securing £625k transport grant funding from the Welsh Government.

The funding is part of a £2.7 million Active Travel programme for 2019/20 which aims to create new walking and cycling routes through the city and expand Swansea existing network to support the use of active travel for leisure and for commuting to work.

In July, pupils and teachers at Ynystawe Primary School helped to officially open a 2km section of off-road cycle path which was also funded through the WG Active Travel programme.

It means that Swansea now has 97kms of off-road cycle and walking routes for everyone to enjoy.

Mark Thomas, Cabinet Member for Environment and Infrastructure Management, said:

“We are continuing to secure funding so we can expand our cycle network in Swansea.

“These new routes provide vital links between neighbouring communities and also ensure children walking or cycling to school can do so safely and without the need to be on a main road.”

Further funding secured in this years' settlement will also go towards designing a new route between the DVLA and Morriston Hospital.

A feasibility study is already well under way for a possible new route between Penllergaer and Gorseinon.

Cllr Thomas added:

“This is an ongoing process where we are always looking at where we can plan new routes and connect communities in the city. More and more people are choosing to cycle as an alternative transport method for getting to and from work or just for leisure purposes, so we need to make sure we have sufficient infrastructure in place.”

Business News Wales