(Title Image: Wales Online)
Officers have recommended that Bridgend Council’s Cabinet approves an upgraded shared walking and cycling route between Bridgend town centre and the Waterton roundabout (pdf).
A temporary trial cycle lane was installed along Cowbridge Road towards the end of 2020. It proved controversial – with residents and others believing it was unsafe – and was later removed.
The final proposals (image below – if it’s too small, go to page 10 of the pdf) are for:
- A permanent segregated/shared surface walking and cycling path along Cowbridge Road between the Bridgend College junction and the Waterton roundabout. This would be on the South Wales Police HQ/northern side of the road and is likely to result in a slight narrowing of the carriageway.
- An upgrade to the existing shared walking and cycling path between Bridgend College and Coychurch Road Gardens. This will link to improved on-street and off-street facilities to Brackla Street/Cheapside along Jenkin Street.
- Reducing the current 40mph speed limit between the Waterton roundabout and the railway bridge to 30mph.
- Parking bays to be provided to the east and west of the Uxilla Terrace junction. Existing parking bays outside the college will be kept too. Double yellow lines would be put everywhere else on the northern side.
- The police HQ junction and the South Road junction (to the industrial estate) will be upgraded to include toucan crossings.
Funding for the project has already been secured via a Welsh Government active travel grant. There are no direct costs to the council.
A consultation took place with affected residents and others earlier this year and several objections were raised.
- Cllr. Matthew Voisey (Con, Oldcastle) noted previous safety concerns and supported having the path on the southern/college side of the road instead (as did some residents). He also believed the fact alternatives weren’t considered beforehand made the whole process a “sham” and gave the public the impression that “a decision had already been made”.
- Cllr. Lyn Walters (Con, Oldcastle) thought the proposed path would still be too narrow for use by both pedestrians and cyclists at the same time. Cyclists may also be discouraged from using the route as they wouldn’t have priority when crossing College Close, Jubilee Road and Uxilla Terrace, so it would be quicker to just cycle in the road.
- Objections and observations from residents included existing difficulties trying to get into and out of Jubilee Crescent and Uxilla Terrace, the pinch point under the railway bridge (which the proposal intends to solve by painting “Araf/Slow” for cyclists) and a reduction in car parking spaces.
Bridgend Council argues that Wyndham Crescent, the college and petrol station generate far more traffic movements across the pavement than the northern side of Cowbridge Road, which is why it would be put there. The northern side also provides a more direct route to the cycling and walking link between Bridgend and Pencoed.
The council also argue that streets on the northern side have more traffic restrictions (they’re access-only) and most residents in homes facing Cowbridge Road have rear driveways or other off-street parking. As mentioned, on-street parking bays have also been retained on Cowbridge Road where the width allows.
Assuming the Cabinet gives the green light, you would expect construction to start within a few months.