Active Travel Consultation Summary Report Isle of County Council

January 2016

Contents

1. Introduction ...... 3

2. Purpose of the Consultation ...... 3

3. Delivery Activities ...... 3

4. Supporting Documentation ...... 4

5. Note ...... 4

6. Consultation Responses ...... 7

7. Stakeholders ...... 15

8. Public Exhibition ...... 17

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1. Introduction

Active Travel () Act 2013

The Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 (the Act) requires Local Authorities to consult with various groups of people with regard to a set of Existing Route Maps prepared for the local authority area. This has been undertaken over a 12 week period as stated in the Delivery Guidance for the Act.

This report provides a summary of the findings from the recent public consultation period that was part of preparing the Existing Active Travel Maps for Anglesey. The consultation period ran from 11th August to 30th October 2015.

2. Purpose of the Consultation

Isle of Anglesey County Council (IACC) is required by Welsh Government to consult on its existing Active Travel Maps.

This process promotes the proposed active travel maps to the public as well as gaining opinion on the routes mapped and where routes are wanted / needed by the public. It helps Isle of Anglesey County Council to be more aware of how it is performing in terms of public expectation for walking and cycling on the island.

The existing maps consultation also provides a basis on which to build for the Integrated Network Mapping process due to be complete in 2017.

• Raising awareness and understanding of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 • Understanding and stakeholder views on the proposals

3. Delivery Activities

The following list sets out the activities that were delivered for the Existing Routes Map consultation. Overall, the activities were designed to:

• Engage different stakeholder groups, including those that are harder to reach; • Engage IACC staff and Council Members • Document consultation responses and provide feedback.

Delivery Activities:

 Make details of the draft Existing Active Travel Routes available on the IACC website throughout the consultation period 3

 Send letter/email notifying consultees that documents are available on-line

 Issue a press release about the consultation

 IACC Facebook and Twitter feed throughout consultation period

 IACC staff and Council Members were targeted by e-mail on 9th September.

 Undertake a staffedpublic exhibition at the Anglesey Show which took place on the 11th and 12th August 2015.

 Consult with local community groups through Medrwn Môn’s project - Llais Ni.

 Consult with community groups through Police Diversity Unit.

 Consult directly with those who had asked to be consulted.

4. Supporting Documentation

The following documentation was published on the IACC website during the consultation period:

 Information on the purpose of the consultation and a definition of Active Travel.  A draft map of Active Travel Routes in  A draft map of Active Travel Routes in and Valley  Route audits for the routes audited in Llangefni and Holyhead / Valley  A map showing the locations of the designated settlements on Anglesey  A link to the electronic survey

The above documentation was made available in both English and Welsh.

5. Note

The process of both auditing existing routes and then consulting on them was carried out at a scale that reflected the level of funding that WG made available to undertake this work. There was insufficient funding to enable this authority to procure the work externally and limited staff resources to undertake the work internally. The number of routes audited which could then be consulted on was therefore a smaller number than would normally be considered desirable, and not all designated settlements have had routes audited at the time of preparing this report. Funding remaining from undertaking the process internally will be used to allow Sustrans to undertake further route audits in all settlements which will then feed into the Integrated Network Mapping process.

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6. Consultation Responses

Consultation responses were received from a range of stakeholders throughout the consultation period from a number of differing sources. These are:

• Public Exhibition at the Anglesey Show on 11th and 12th August 2015 in the main Council pavilion. The Anglesey Show attracts around 60,000 visitors over the two day period.

• Isle of Anglesey County Council Website

• Link on Sustrans website

• Facebook / Twitter

It was possible for stakeholders to respond to the consultation through the use of a prepared and structured consultation feedback form, these were made available at the public exhibition and also as a response mechanism on the Council website.

Assessment of Responses The Active Travel survey pages on the IACC Website received 728 unique visitors. 29 forms were completed through the Anglesey Council website. 4 forms were completed at the Anglesey Show, and 1 form and 1 other set of comments received by email. (Total of 34 responses by form.)

No comments were received on Facebook.

There was a twitter trail where the Council’s notice was retweeted several times.

Feedback form responses:

Question 1 : Do you agree that the routes identified are suitable to be promoted for Active Travel Journeys?  Yes  No  Comments

Yes 50% No 41%

Comments were made as follows:  they are mostly leisure routes. for active travel to be meaningful the routes need to provide people with genuine ways to get to places they need to go but without having to drive.  Everything in Holyhead is easier for people on only the side of town  They are not accurate and some are merely lines marked on narrow footpaths.  None of the maps cover the or areas.  No. As the auditing so far makes clear, and as anyone who knows what good facilities looks like can tell you, neither these routes nor any other on the island meet minimum

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requirements for mass active travel. When these routes do allow good and safe door-to-door active travel, they will promote themselves.  These routes do not yet reach the acceptable standard for active travel journeys. Also there should be some safe active travel routes in the / / Llanfairpwll / Bangor / Caernarfon area, particularly given the large number of potential commuters and other users travelling to and from the University (including the School of Ocean Sciences in Menai Bridge) and Ysbyty .  Why are there so few routes on Anglesey?  requires Safe Active Travel Journeys, areas include: Chapel Street Lon Groes From Groeslon Junction down Station Road Enterprise -Zone to A5 for staff at Business Park  Suitable from Valley to Holyhead, however not Valley to RAF Valley. Footpath stops at , then I have to walk in road, sometimes traffic can be heavy on very windy remote road.

Question 2 : Are there any problems along any of these routes that would stop you from using them?  Yes  The surface is in poor condition  Too many barriers cause obstruction  Not enough lowered (dropped kerbs) on the route to where I want to go  There is not enough space for me  The route is run-down and untidy  It takes me a long time to cross the busy road  There are not enough / benches / shelters / rest areas for me to use it often  I do not feel safe  No Problems  Comments

Yes 41% No problems 21%

Responses to specific issues: The surface is in poor condition 18% Too many barriers cause obstruction 15% Not enough lowered (dropped kerbs) on the route to where I want to go 9% There is not enough space for me 9% The route is run-down and untidy 12% It takes me a long time to cross the busy road 21% There are not enough / benches / shelters / rest areas for me to use it often 9% I do not feel safe 24%

Comments were made as follows:  Dylsai perchnogion cwn gadw ei cwn ar dennyn ar Lon Las Cefni, a phwysicach fyth, glanhau baw ci ar ei holau. 

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 Other / additional comments I'm an experienced cyclist, typically averaging 20 mph. There are v few cycle paths that are designed for use at >10 mph, let alone 15 or 20 (most are great for family rides I go on). In particular, entrances and exits are poorly signed and perpendicular to the road. They'd be great if set like a slip road geometry. Equally, the side road splay rules don't seem to apply when these paths are built. Given the lack of priority to bikes on side road junctions, poor splay really does make some of the paths an unattractive choice. Valley to HH Tesco best path on Anglesey (except for side roads and the Tesco end). Thanks for that one!   i would only use them for leisure but they are not useful for getting anywhere  Llangefni - It is very difficult to cross the road opposite the leisure centre due to the level of traffic an road configuration. This is further compounded by the bus stop as you may not be able to see oncoming cars overtaking the bus. I believe that the crossing should be closer towards 'Ysgol y Bont' and a designated walking/cycling route should be behind the housing leading tot he leisure centre (which is on Council owned property). There is an island by Ysgol y Bont so this is a more suitable crossing place than opposite the busy junction of the leisure centre.  Dog fouling is horrendous  Dog poo !!  Too expensive  Don't live in these areas  The surface on Lon Las Cefni although Tarmac is poorly laid and so bumpy it has already caused a serious accident to to a cyclist.  None of the maps cover the Amlwch or Rhosybol areas.  Yes. These are not the matters of minor detail suggested in your list; the design guidance in the Active Travel Act should be consulted. Active Travel requires a network of good-quality door-to-door routes that feel safe for all journeys. Only such a network will bring the benefits of active travel to Anglesey.  These routes do not yet reach the acceptable standard for active travel journeys. Also there should be some safe active travel routes in the Menai Bridge / Beaumaris / Llanfairpwll / Bangor / Caernarfon area, particularly given the large number of potential commuters and other users travelling to and from the University (including the School of Ocean Sciences in Menai Bridge) and Ysbyty Gwynedd.  Some concern about fallen leaves on the stretch near Anglesey Aluminium causing slippery surfaces  The residents of Gaerwen enjoy walking, jogging and cycling and many continue these activities towards Wynnstay right turn approx. 1.3 miles, left at railway bridge, then to LLanddanial and return to Station Road, Gaerwen. This is an extremely popular circuit. My dog is 13 years old and almost every day I have taken him for a walk in my car as the journey on Station Road is too dangerous as there is no room for pedestrians and two way traffic. I know that many risk the journey but it is one I am not prepared to take. Chapel Street is busy and pedestrians have to walk round parked vehicles in the road along with farm and articulated lorries. The Enter-prize Zone would welcome pavement to Stermat The pavements are fundamental for safety around the village and connecting routes.It is unreasonable to walk along side HGV and be squashed onto parked vehicles and hedges The lack of pavements has a negative effect on village life.

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 Suitable from Valley to Holyhead, however, not Valley to RAF Valley. Footpath stops at Caergeiliog, then I have to walk in road, sometimes traffic can be heavy on very windy remote road.  Camber on Lôn Las Cefni is poor at edges  Barriers at either end of Lôn Las Cefni do not allow emergency services access.

Question 3 : Are there existing routes you think we may have missed that are already being used as active travel routes?  Yes  No  Comments

Yes 41% No 29%

Comments were made as follows:  a route is desperately needed to and from the bridges across the menai that are actually realistic for people to commute on. some cyclists do use these roads but they are either going a very convoluted route which is too time consuming for commuting or they are taking their life in their hands on main roads. there mneeds to be an active travel route promoted across the bridges into main destinations on the island  I believe the boundary for Llangefni should also include Rhostrehwfa. Many people walk from Llangefni to Rhostrehwfa (and vice versa) but it can be quite dangerous as it's unlit and cars tend to speed.  Holyhead Fire Station roundabout-Leisure Centre  The route through the Dingle in Llangefni around the reservoir and up to is not shown. This enables local residents to walk or cycle into Llangefni.  Yes. Almost the entire road and path network is presently used by that tiny minority who are prepared to brave hostile road conditions and unsuitable path conditions.  Bangor Road/Amlwch Road travelling into . Many housing settlements use this route to travel into the centre of the town to access facilities such as primary school, library, shops, doctors surgery, etc.  Would like to see more routes  The community of Llanfihangelesceifiog has just raised money for a specially designed bike for a school girl to help her develop muscles and improve her mobility. I trust that you will look at the above proposals and give them sincere and fair consideration although they are not identified routes.  Valley to RAF Valley

Question 4 : Are there any more routes you think could be developed as future active travel routes?  Yes  No  Comments

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Yes 62% No 29%

Comments were made as follows:  Would be a good place? Plenty of locals and holiday makers use bikes to get around, including the main road loop, and in/around the village and beach. Would be great to make it slightly safer.  a route is desperately needed to and from the bridges across the menai that are actually realistic for people to commute on. some cyclists do use these roads but they are either going a very convoluted route which is too time consuming for commuting or they are taking their life in their hands on main roads. there mneeds to be an active travel route promoted across the bridges into main destinations on the island  should be included to account for increased activity due to Wylfa Newydd.  More cycling routes ,as roads very busy and more cycle parking spots  Frankly, this is a complete waste of time. Would anyone really consider cycling a fair distance in the rain to keep a doctor's appointment or to struggle home with shopping? I would love to use the bus - sadly the service to Carmel is so poor as to be useless. Please forget this cycling/walking promotion business, I am quite sure those who can already do. Please focus your attention of assisting with the provision of some decent public transport (Including the rail restoration between Llangefni and the main line at Gaerwen, which seems to have gone into limbo.)  The disused an decaying railway from Amlwch to Llangefni has been surveyed by Sustrans for Anglesey Council who supported by the Local Access Forum have recommended it be used as an Active Travel multi user path. This links the two centres of Amlwch and Llangefni with two secondary and several primary school en route.  Possibility of linking circular routes around most villages on Anglesey  None of the maps cover the Amlwch or Rhosybol areas. Main issues in these areas are walking/cycling to school. There is no pavement/cycle path from to Amlwch (B5111) for YSTJ school, so parents have to drive their children to school as this road is very unsafe and narrow in places. Also there is no bus that travels on this route. This issue could easily be overcome by developing a path parallel to the road in the adjoining fields, just like they do in other areas (Ceredigion, Devon, Cornwall etc. Also there is no pavement/path from the back road of Rhosybol to the main road, again as the road that links both these road is narrow, it is very unsafe for children or even adults to use. There is a overgrown footpath usually very muddy and dog mess everywhere, so again forcing unnecessary car journeys for the school run. Other comments/observations. The council's cycle routes, the ones that use the roads such as route 522 and not having a dedicated cycle path. These are not really safe and do not encourage people to use bikes for their journeys. Just sticking up a cycle route sign on a road does not make it into a proper cycle route. The council really needs to explore better use of making cycle journeys safer, ideally look at how it is achieved in the Netherlands. Where cycling is done by all ages for real day to day journey (Commuting, Shopping etc) As Ynys Mon is trying to market itself as a holiday location, having a network of safe (off the public road) routes linking its towns and villages would be a real plus point and i'm sure more people would visit as they have done in other parts of the UK that have off the road cycling routes. 11

 Yes. If we are to obtain the benefits of active travel, if we are to revive our High Streets and our settlements, if we are to solve the crises of traffic management and parking, if we are to revitalize the lives of our children and ourselves, we need the comprehensive, good-quality network that the Active Travel Act describes. CTC Cymru, the national cycling charity, would be happy to help outline such a network.  Upon completion of the new housing estate and proposed elderly retirement apartments on Lôn Pant Y Cudyn in Benllech, this area including established housing settlements in Tyn Y Gongl could become an active travel route to access current facilities and facilities which are currently under construction (i.e. primary health centre) in the centre of Benllech.  As noted above, there should be some safe active travel routes in the Menai Bridge / Beaumaris / Llanfairpwll / Bangor / Caernarfon area, particularly given the large number of potential commuters and other users travelling to and from the University (including the School of Ocean Sciences in Menai Bridge) and Ysbyty Gwynedd.  Fourmile bridge Bay to Holyhead  The routes round Gaerwen  Valley to RAF Valley. This is a major employer in the area. Heavily populated area.  Biwmares, ,

Response from Sustrans Comments were received from Sustrans which are as follows:

Question 1 It is Sustrans understanding that the Active Travel maps as shown (Holyhead-Valley and Llangefni) do not follow the advice set out in the Welsh Government delivery guidance. Our understanding is that the Existing Routes Map (ERM) should only show active travel routes that have been audited and have either passed or ‘failed with statement’. Active Travel routes can be routes for walking, cycling or both.

The IoACC website describes ‘An Active Travel Journey is one made to or from a workplace or educational establishment or to access health, leisure, or other services and facilities.’ Yet very few of the routes shown on the published maps actually reach one of these key destinations. A number of destinations are shown on the map but there is no connection between the route shown and the start or end point for that journey.

The identification of routes seems to be based on the location of infrastructure rather than key destinations for active travel.

The Holyhead-Valley map shows the main route between the two communities but it does not show the network of routes in those communities that connects all the key destinations.

The Llangefni map does show some routes with slightly more detail but again a number of links from the routes to the destinations are missing. There are also no references on the routes which relate to the audits that are also published on the website. Active Travel (Wales) Act consultation – Isle of Anglesey County Council – Sustrans submission

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The ERM does not distinguish between cycling routes that have passed and routes that have failed the audit, yet there are sections of route that have failed (Holyhead-Valley) as no statement has been published. Welsh Government guidance states that routes that have failed should not be shown on the Existing Routes Map.

Question 2 “Too many barriers cause obstruction” – a number of the routes, especially in Llangefni, are shared use footways and users are required to stop at road crossings when priority crossings would assist both walkers and cyclists and prioritise active travel.

“There is not enough space for ”– some of the shared use routes are on fairly narrow footways which can become busy on route to schools.

“The route is run-down and untidy” – we have received reports of routes that are unmaintained and overgrown (Lon Las Cefni near Parc Bryn Cefni).

“It takes me a long time to cross the busy road” – as noted above the lack of priority crossing is seen as a barrier to users.

Other / additional comments Signage on a number of the routes, that would highlight the key destinations, is missing.

Question 3 As noted in Section 1 above the links between the routes as shown and the key destinations are missing and we would strongly recommend that the authority do further auditing to cover these routes before submission to the Welsh Government. These could include (further review would be required to confirm the list):

Valley to Gorad Road residential estates, railway station & town centre; town centre to school. Holyhead – connections to retail park, leisure centre, schools, town centre, library and employment zones.

Llangefni – Leisure centre to town centre; town centre to Cefni Hospital, schools and Coleg Menai; A5114 employment & residential areas to town centre.

A number of the designated settlements have not been considered and again we would strongly recommend that the authority do further auditing to cover these communities before submission to the Welsh Government. These include Amlwch, Benllech, Llanfairpwll and Menai Bridge.

There are existing National Cycle Network routes in a number of these communities that could be audited as a minimum and all settlements contain schools and town centre areas which would act as key destinations for both walking and cycling.

Question 4

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Sustrans believes that future work in the active travel area could include the upgrading of a large number of the existing routes to bring them up to the standards that the Welsh Government have committed to as part of the Active Travel (Wales) Act. If we are going to change residents and visitors transport behavior then we need to prioritise active travel routes and journeys in these communities and make waling or cycling the obvious choice.

Developing networks in the designated settlements, connecting all the key destinations, should take place in a prioritised programme as per the guidance set out by the Welsh Government.

Other Comments One other email response was received, the comments are as follows: I live in Gaerwen and do a lot of walking for leisure around the village and back roads.

Station Road from the Lon Groes crossroads has no footpath for part of the way up to Stermat and there are are always parked cars meaning you have to out in the middle of the road to get by ( this is a particular problem when there is a big service at the chapel). This route is used a great deal by adults and children including parents with pushchairs.

Station Road from Lon Groes down the hill to Llanddaniel has no pavement in spite if repeated requests.People use this route to access the back road by the agricultural merchants (frequently used by dog walkers and other walkers and runners) and to go to and from Llanddaniel. It is a dangerous and unpleasant stretch to walk as it is narrow and very busy not just with cars but also buses,tractors and delivery lorries and the traffic goes fast.

There is no footpath between Lon Groes crossroads with Station Road and Gaerwen Uchaf. It is a busy road again used by lorries and has to be walked by anyone wanting to walk round the village. It is used by everyone but in particular from a safety point of view lots of unaccompanied children.

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7. Stakeholders

The following stakeholder groups were consulted on the Existing Routes Maps.

Network Rail Network Rail wrote on 4/02/2014 asking to be consulted on the Active Travel Existing Routes. Information was sent by e-mail and post on 21st August 2015 - no direct response was received.

Diversity Unit, Police The Diversity Unit of the Police were sent information on the consultation on 14th August.

Query asking for feedback sent on 30/10/15 which asked for any responses to the consultation questions themselves or a response as to how the consultation had been run, either from the Diversity Unit point of view or from the groups they run. - no response received. The Community Groups the Diversity Unit work with are: Disability Equality Group Transgender Community Group LGBT Community Group Diversity Steering Group Independent Advisory Group

All members are from the community, and nobody is vetted apart from those members on the Independent Advisory Group. All the groups meet for purposes of community engagement, two way communication between the Police and the community to assist with issues affecting people such as parking on pavements, antisocial behaviour, blue badge access, hate crimes committed against disabled people, LGBT people, Transgender people, ethnicity based, religiously based, racially based etc.

PCSOs The PCSOs who work with the Council’s Road Safety unit were sent links to the consultation and asked to forward the information to their colleagues. No specific responses were received.

Lleisiau Lleol / Community Voice Council officers are directed to undertake local consultation through the Community Voice group coordinated by Medrwn Môn. Consultation on the Active Travel Existing Routes maps was therefore undertaken as part of their consultation process on other community related issues. Unfortunately no results of any survey work relating specifically to Active Travel are available.

Llais Ni and the Access Group are related to the Community Voice project.

Access Group

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A meeting was arranged for 4th September which was subsequently postponed. It was not possible to re-arrange this within the consultation period. The access group were interested in taking part in an auditing exercise on one of the routes, however this has not taken place. This will be considered as part of the Integrated Network Mapping process.

Llais Ni The Llais Ni project suggested combining a route audit undertaken by the access group with young people from the Llais Ni young people’s forum. This was not arranged as the Access Group meeting had been postponed and it was not possible to arrange this within the long lead in times needed for working with the forum. This will be considered as part of the Integrated Network Mapping process.

Local Access Forum The Local Access Forum on Anglesey has debated the Active Travel process since the Act was first introduced and was e-mailed the link to the Anglesey consultation on 14th August. No direct response was received.

Sustrans Sustrans have been a partner in the process of taking the consultation to a wider audience, putting links on their website to the consultation on Anglesey. The Sustrans Schools Officer (North Wales) has also passed the link to local contacts. Sustrans’ response to the consultation is on page 12.

Schools The Sustrans Schools Officer for North Wales contacted schools which have been part of the Sustrans Bike It programme on Anglesey. No specific feedback was received. The following schools were targeted: Amlwch, Beaumaris, , Esceifiog (Gaerwen), Parc (Holyhead), Llanfair, Llangoed, Henblas (), Rhosneigr, Talwrn, (Holyhead), , Y Borth (Menai Bridge), Corn Hir (Llangefni), Parch Thomas Ellis (Holyhead), Santes Fair (Holyhead).

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8. Public Exhibition

Consultation Event A public exhibition took place at the Anglesey show on the 11th and 12th of August 2015.

The exhibition was staffed by an officer from IACC and the Regional Travel Plan Co-ordinator. Local Authority Councillors were present at the Council stand at the show as well as the Corporate Directors of the Authority.

IACC website, Facebook and Twitter

The display included boards which showed maps of the routes as well as photographs taken along the routes and information on Active Travel. Also available were maps of the designated settlements on the island and; questionnaires for members of the public to complete.

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