A fifteen-year plan containing 175 routes that make it easier for residents to choose walking or cycling over driving on short journeys has been approved by the council’s cabinet.

Earlier this week they met to check a report of new routes and 64 existing routes. They’re called active travel routes and aim to make it easier for residents to walk up to three miles or cycle up to ten miles instead of driving. During the meeting, the councillors also approved the ones that officers have analysed to show they would make the most impact during 2024/25. They will now go to the Welsh Government for funding bids when the next round of grants is available.

Cllr Mandy Owen, executive member for the environment, presented the report and told the cabinet that councils were required to submit a “map” of routes to the Welsh Government as only these ones would be eligible for any future grant bids. She said any work would make it easier for people to walk and cycle as “viable modes of transport” for shorter journeys.

Mark Thomas, the council’s deputy director of highways and climate change said they used a “scoring mechanism” to put the routes in order of importance based on factors including the number of schools, residents and businesses near them. He said that any work was “subject to annual provision of grant funding” but if any new money became available in an area such as from an Section 106 agreement from a housing developer, they would “take advantage” and this may affect the order of the priority list.

Cllr Sue Morgan, executive member for resources, said it was important to be “mindful of the cycling skills” needed by children and to ensure the availability of safe cycling courses follows the increase in the number of cycling routes.

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