Consultation Report

Route 6 Ely Bridge

Project No: SPHTT15110

A consultation was held on the above scheme proposals between 11/08/2015 and 25/08/2015.

The purpose of the consultation was to obtain information from the local community and other interested parties in order to address local concerns where possible.

The Emergency Services were also consulted as part of the scheme development, and supportive comments have been received from the Police.

Cardiff Cycling Campaign responded to the consultation, and stated that they were keen to see a new bridge at this location but raised some concerns, as detailed in the report.

The concerns and comments are summarised as below, along with the Council's response. In view of the below it is proposed to proceed with the implementation of the scheme subject to the outcome of the planning application and available funding.

Issue – road surface Resident welcomed the proposal, but raised concerns about the condition of the carriageway on Riverside Terrace.

Response The condition of the carriageway will be inspected during the detailed design stage in conjunction with the Council Highways Asset Management team. If any resurfacing works are required these will be carried out if funding permits.

Issue – Ely Mill development Resident asked whether this footbridge would replace the footbridge proposed across the River Ely as part of the Ely Mill Development, as a link from Trelai Park to Leckwith.

Response This Route 6 Ely Bridge is a separate scheme to the Ely Mill Development and was identified as an improvement in the Enfys plan, the Cardiff Strategic Cycle Network plan.

There is a foot/cycle bridge included as part of the planning permission for the Ely Mill Development, which will provide an access route for pedestrians and cyclists from Dyffrig Road to the new development.

Issue – Willow tree Resident was concerned that the willow tree would be affected by the new bridge.

Route 6 Ely Bridge Consultation Report Page 1 Response The existing willow tree is sited approximately 12m from the bridge and will not be affected by the new bridge structure.

Issue - Development of existing infrastructure: Resident asked whether the existing road layout could be altered to provide a facility for pedestrians and cyclists to share instead of building a new bridge.

Response The existing footway and carriageway widths have been assessed and, in order to provide the minimum 3m desirable width for a shared-use path, it would be necessary to remove a carriageway lane. This would have an unacceptable reduction in highway capacity.

Issue – Link to Ely Trail: Cardiff Cycling Campaign raised concerns that the proposals did not join to the cycle path planned through the Ely Mill development, and did not address the community severance issues.

Response We can confirm that the proposals will link to the new entrance of the Ely Mill Development. The shared-use footway/cycleway from the proposed bridge will link back onto Cowbridge Road West approximately 60m south of the location of the new junction into the Mill Development.

The proposals will address community severance issues and increase opportunities for Active Travel as it will improve the access to the Ely Mill Development entrance. This new development will provide alternative routes from Ely to Victoria Park and Canton areas and avoid the busy Cowbridge Road West/East junction.

Issue – access onto Riverside Terrace: Cardiff Cycling Campaign raised concerns that access on to Riverside Terrace was unsafe due to the left-turning vehicles from Cowbridge Road West.

Response The layout of this junction will be reviewed during the detailed design stage in order to minimise the risk of conflict between cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles. The existing railings will be removed, which will improve the inter-visibility between motorists and pedestrians/cyclists.

Issue – access onto Riverside Terrace: Cardiff Cycling Campaign asked whether the bridge could be located further east to improve the exit on to Riverside Terrace.

Response Due to the presence of the willow tree it will not be possible to move the bridge abutments closer to the tree. However, we shall review the alignment of the connecting path to assess whether this can be changed whilst still maintaining the inter-visibility between motorists and pedestrians/cyclists.

Route 6 Ely Bridge Consultation Report Page 2 Issue – use of shared-use path: Cardiff Cycling Campaign raised concerns that the north side of the bridge does not have a segregated cycle facility and that the path will be a shared-use path.

Response During the development of the project we have examined the footway and carriageway widths to assess whether there is scope to provide segregated cycle facilities. In order to provide segregated facilities it would be necessary to remove a carriageway lane which would have unacceptable consequences to the capacity of the highway.

A segregated path with pedestrians on one side and cyclists on the other can cause conflicts if users do not notice which side they should be using. It is considered that a shared-use path, with a minimum width of 3m, is the most appropriate facility for this location.

Issue – Western Active Travel Scheme: Cardiff Cycling Campaign requested further information about the Western Active Travel Scheme.

Response The Western Active Travel Scheme is a project which aims to improve the existing infrastructure to enable communities to have easier access to facilities through walking and cycling. The project combines a number of initiatives which have had community engagement during their development including Enfys (the Cardiff Strategic Cycle Network plan) and the Walkable Neighbourhoods Plan.

The Western Active Travel Scheme is a two year project, funded by the Welsh Government and will incorporate a number of projects including

• a new toucan crossing on Cowbridge Road East, • upgrading of the existing junction of Cowbridge Road West with Mill Road to a toucan crossing, • improvements to the Cowbridge Road West / Vincent Road junction, • waymarking of Route 6 • package of local footway improvements identified in the Walkable Neighbourhoods Plan.

Route 6 Ely Bridge Consultation Report Page 3