National Transport Awards 2012

CYCLING IN Delivering Improved Cycle Links Cycling in Penarth Delivering Improved Cycling Links

The Context

In December 2007 Sustrans, the national cycling charity, was voted the winner of the People’s Millions Lottery contest for their Connect2 project which sought to connect communities via dedicated walking and cycling schemes across the UK.

Over five years, up to 2013, £50 million of Big Lottery Funding was to be matched with more than £100 million of funding from a variety of other sources, to create 79 dedicated, high quality local walking and cycling networks that benefit and link local communities.

In there are 12 Connect2 projects including 2 reserve schemes, and the Pont-Y-Werin scheme over the linking Penarth and Penarth Marina with the International Sports Village in Bay is one of the largest such schemes.

The scheme involved the construction of a bascule bridge crossing of the River Ely between Penarth Marina and the Cardiff Sports Village. Christened Pont-Y-Werin or The Peoples Bridge following a public competition, the Vale Council gave both political and financial support to this scheme which provides an important walking and cycling link between Penarth and Cardiff and will also form a major element of the National Cycle Network (NCN) and in particular NCN Route 88 which is proposed to run through the .

The Pont-Y-Werin was completed on schedule and was officially opened to the public on the 14th July 2010 by the Deputy First Minister for Wales, Ieuan Wyn Jones. In progressing Connect2 schemes it was a requirement of the Big Lottery funding and Sustrans that the supporting partners agree and enter into an appropriate Agreement detailing their respective obligations. Whilst the primary reason for the Legal Agreement is to ensure that the financial liabilities of the project partners are fully addressed, the Agreement also ensures that schemes are delivered to an agreed standard and contain a number of common elements (e.g. forms of public art). The Legal Agreement between , the Vale of Glamorgan Council and Sustrans was formerly signed by all parties on the 16th April 2009.

From inception the Council has committed itself to the development and maintenance of a network of routes that will lead to the bridge. As resources for the development of the route network are severely limited, completion has out of necessity been phased over time with design and implementation works occurring as and when resources are secured.

The Circumstances

Penarth is an established Victorian town with a more modern Haven or Marina area. There are a number of issues to consider when implementing new and improved links between the Pont-Y-Werin and the town, not least:-

• From a planning perspective, a significant escarpment separates the Haven and Pont-Y-Werin from the town, making the provision of cycling links difficult to plan and implement;

• From a highways and traffic perspective, the road infrastructure is very well established and constrained by existing physical development (residential properties, commercial premises and business development) making alterations to the adopted highway incredibly difficult; • This point above is compounded by the fact that Penarth suffers from considerable congestion on key arterial routes, especially at peak times, which results in the need to recognise that any solutions need to balance the effective movement of vehicles at peak times with the safety, convenience and provision of improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.

It was against this background and set of circumstances that the Vale of Glamorgan considered it appropriate to establish in mid 2009 a local Steering Group to focus on key issues relating to the delivery of new and improved walking and cycling links to Pont-Y-Werin.

The Partnership Approach and progress

At the outset, given the desire to see Pont-Y-Werin used to its full potential, the Council considered that there needed to be a high level of community involvement in considering and delivering routes to Pont-Y-Werin. This would lead to the consideration of ideas and options and have the advantage of securing full community ownership of the schemes that were ultimately developed and delivered.

The concept of a “Pont-Y-Werin Links Steering Group” was first raised in May 2009 and an invitation letter was issued by the Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation on 21st May 2009, some twelve months before the planned opening of Pont-Y-Werin. The letter is attached as Appendix 1 to this bid and was issued to various potential representatives including representatives from the Local Electoral Ward, Penarth Town Council, Llandough Community Council, Penarth Chamber of Trade, Sustrans, Penarth Marina Residents Association, representatives on behalf of Penarth cyclists and residents and a representative from the Cardiff and Vale Coalition of Disabled People.

Subsequent to this invitation, the Group held its inaugural meeting on the 16th June 2009 at Penarth Leisure Centre when the role of the Group, the Terms of Reference and a consideration of funding, potential routes and aspirations were discussed. The Terms of Reference, which was agreed on the 16th June 2009, and the membership of the Group are also attached within Appendix 1.

Since the first meeting, the steering group has met regularly and this has allowed a detailed consideration of several potential routes to Pont-y-Werin. The concept of a steering group has allowed all members of that group to bring forward ideas and suggestions that may not have otherwise been considered. The fact that membership of the group is diverse, including individuals with different interests and priorities has meant that all suggestions and options for route development have been worthy of consideration and assessment, with detailed reports being brought back to the group following consideration. The workings of the group has also been reported to the Council’s Scrutiny Committee, enabling the wider consideration of issues relating to the need to provide improved links to Pont-y-Werin. In addition the fact that this approach to community involvement is in being has without doubt assisted the Council in making bids to the South East Wales Transport Alliance (Sewta) for preparatory grants as well as actual funding for route development.

Indeed for the two financial years 2010/11 and 2011/12, the Council was successful in obtaining a total of £600,000 for route development.

The progress made on route development are outlined briefly below:

Cogan Pill Road, Llandough

Work on the main structural elements of this section of the planned network commenced and was completed during July 2010 at a cost of £43,000. A full signing regime will be implemented in due course as other phases of the network are completed.

Arcot Street, Penarth

A cycling route along Arcot Street was seen by all as a key section of the network, and was intended to provide a north south link between Penarth town centre and Pont-y-Werin. This element was very much seen as the initial phase which now forms part of a complete link through the Penarth Heights development and provided via the Section 106 Agreement from the Penarth Heights planning permission. Design work was completed at the end of 2010 for a contra flow cycle lane along the southern section of Arcot Street and an on carriageway option comprising signage and road markings along the northern section. Implementation was completed in March 2011 at £83,000. This scheme had been subject to continual dialogue with Sustrans and was seen as a priority at all the Steering Group meetings, which was a key factor in bringing this scheme forward for implementation during 2010/2011. On road markings have also been used to facilitate cycling to the new development at Penarth Heights at the northern end of Arcot Street which as a consequence links the development with the town centre.

Penarth Haven

Small scale works have been implemented within Penarth Haven to improve the available facilities for cyclists upon the opening of the Pont Y Werin. The works undertaken comprised the installation of on road advisory cycle lanes, improved signage within the Haven and the correction of existing substandard and confusing infrastructure. During the 2011/12 financial year, other improvements to provide cycle lanes were provided within the Haven to ensure the provision of a fully integrated link, directly to Pont-Y-Werin.

Cogan Leisure Centre

Proposals comprised the upgrading and extension of the existing footpath to the northern boundary of the recreation ground at Cogan Leisure Centre that links Cawnpore Street with Andrew Road. Detailed design drawings were prepared with the support of Preparatory Works Grant from Sewta and implementation was undertaken at a cost of circa £82,000.

The Dingle Park

Designs were progressed during 2010 for a segregated walking and cycling link through the Dingle Park to connect with the improvements planned as a part of the Penarth Heights redevelopment to the Dingle Road railway station footbridge. The proposal provides a new walking and cycling route within the under utilised Dingle Park andprovides improved off road access to south western areas of Penarth. Design works were supported by Preparatory Works Grant secured from Sewta and the proposal was again implemented during 2010/11.

Paget Road Hill

Proposals included the provision of on-road road markings on a resurfaced highway that links the Haven with Arcot Street and the town centre, to ensure a safer environment for cyclists when descending and climbing the hill. This included the provision of protected zones for cyclists on the steepest part of the hill with speed cushions designed to slow traffic speeds.

Outcomes

Effective Partnership working

• Effective partnership between the public sector, other organisations, Sustrans and individuals all with different interests and agendas. • Consensus building • Transparent and open dialogue at pre-planning and planning stages

Not just consultation, but involvement

• The Steering group is not a mechanism for consultation, but a mechanism for involvement when making decisions and taking forward schemes. • The Steering group allows meaningful discussion on priorities for the local community • All requests for consideration and assessment have been taken forward. A number of route options that were ultimately not feasible due to cost and other reasons have also been considered through the group, at the request of the group • The group is truly representative as can be seen from the membership

Community Ownership

Consideration of options through the group leads to community ownership of schemes, making the prospect of successful schemes, which are well used more likely. This brings further obvious benefits as more individuals decide to walk or cycle as an alternative to the car. Greater financial ‘pulling power’

• The arrangement of a steering group and the support of Sustrans makes for greater prospects of success when bidding for money, as evidenced by the funding already made available for the delivery of key links to Pont-y- Werin

Actual delivery of schemes

• Not just a talking shop – schemes have actually been delivered and continue to be delivered, enhancing the environment for walking and cycling within Penarth.

Other key benefits through the promotion of walking and cycling

• Less potential for congestion as improvements make it more attractive and safer to walk and cycle • The benefits to health with more people ‘getting active’ • The programme for future links as well as those already undertaken will also provide links to services and facilities, promoting regeneration, sustainability of attractions and potential for more visitors into Penarth Town Centre.

Citation

I am Rob Thomas BSc (Hons), MSc, MRTPI, CMILT, the Head of Planning and Transportation for the Vale of Glamorgan Council and am very pleased to make this submission for 2012 National Transport Awards category 7 Achievements in Cycling and category 15 Contribution to Sustainable Transport. The construction and opening of Pont-y-Werin in 2009 represented a significant and exciting investment in walking and cycling. However, the development also brought with it the key challenge of enhancing, improving and providing new links on the Penarth side of the bridge. The circumstances have not made this an easy task. The geographical circumstances means that reaching the town centre is not straightforward, the pattern of development means that there is very little scope for the delivery of ‘off road routes’ and last but by no means least existing traffic conditions requires a constant balancing and weighing up of priorities. The establishment of a Steering group based in Penarth and having its membership founded in Penarth has resulted in an open and transparent approach to taking forward decisions on route development.