Ystwyth Trail Objective 1 Project
The Ystwyth Trail Project will create a 34km route for cyclists, walkers and horse-riders (part) following the disused railway line from Aberystwyth to Tregaron.
The County Council was granted Objective 1 funding by the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) in December 2002 to enable the £1.4m project to be implemented over a 3 year period.
A continuous 15km long section of the trail, between Llanfarian and Tynygraig, has been open to the public since 2006 but progress on the construction of the remaining two sections of the trail between Aberystwyth and Llanfarian and Tynygraig to Ystrad Meurig was not possible due to land acquisition difficulties
The County Council at their meeting on the 8th September 2005 resolved to acquire such land as was needed to deliver the Ystwyth Trail, along the route granted planning permission, by compulsory purchase (minute 160 refers).
The CEREDIGION COUNTY COUNCIL (CYCLEWAY FROM TREGARON TO ABERYSTYWTH) COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDER 2005 was published in December 2005 and a local public inquiry, lasting three days, was held in July 2006.
In his report the inspector commented that the present proposal was a well thought out project for a major new facility and that he was satisfied that there was a compelling case in the public interest for the creation of the whole Trail.
The inspector recommended that the order be confirmed subject to the deletion of plots 1-4,1-5,1-6 and 2-3 from the order and this was accepted by the then WAG Minister for Enterprise, Innovation and Networks, Mr Andrew Davies AM in his letter to the Council dated the 27th March 2007.
The removal of plots 1-4, 1-5 & 1-6 from the confirmed order is not significant as the affected landowner had agreed to dedicate land for an alternative route, acceptable to the Council, at the public inquiry and this transaction has now been completed. In addition the omission of plot 2-3 at Bryn Eglur, Llanfarian will also not affect the Council¢s ability to move forward with the scheme. The owner of plot 2-3 has confirmed that he is prepared to accept the Council¢s offer for the land and it has been agreed that the strip of land to be transferred to the Council will coincide with the intended location of the access road into the proposed residential development at Bryn Eglur.
Funding for the Ystwyth Trail project was due to expire on the 31st December 2005 but with the compulsory purchase order in place Ceredigion was able to agree with WEFO to extend funding for the project until June 2008.
The General Notice of Confirmation of Order was published on the 26th April 2007 and the General Vesting declaration will be published shortly. It is expected that entry onto the land covered by the compulsory purchase order will be available from the beginning of August 2007.
It is proposed to progress the design and obtain tenders for the Aberystwyth to Llanfarian section of the trail with a view to commencing on site in October 2007 and for the construction of the final and shorter Tynygraig to Ystrad Meurig section to follow later in the year. It is currently anticipated that the whole of the Ystwyth Trail Cycleway will be open to the public by mid April 2008.
Alternative Transport and Energy Festival
There may be a one-day Alternative Transport and Energy Festival on
Saturday 28 April. The date was selected so as to feed into Aber is Green the
following week and to co-incide with National Transport Week. It would entail
exhibitions, demonstrations and information sharing on the subject of
transport and energy alternatives including bio-fuels, wind, solar, tidal,
rail, cycle and foot mobility. For more details contact Bill Fleming
wcf04@aber.ac.uk
Critical Mass Ride for February 2007
Cycling is good for the environment and good for health. But cycling in Aberystwyth is difficult and sometimes dangerous. So, let's get together for a Critical Mass bike ride starting 3pm from outside The Glengower Hotel (The Glen) on Saturday 24th February. CM rides keep cycling on the political agenda and they're good fun too!
First Critical Mass Ride for 2007
Saturday 27th January, Critical Mass Bike Ride, Aberystwyth, Start 3 pm outside Glengower Hotel, keeping cycling and the environment on the political agenda - and having fun!
Last Critical Mass Ride for 2006
The next CM ride is on Saturday 30th December at 3pm, meeting at The Glen. We can use this opportunity to have a seasonal coffee and mince pie together afterwards at The Treehouse. Download the poster here or flyers to print off and hand out.
Saturday afternoon Critical Mass Rides
During the winter we'll be holding our Critical Mass rides on the last Saturday of the month at 3pm. We'll still start from outside the Glengower Hotel. The Saturday rides begin on the 25th November. Download the poster here.
Last Critical Mass Ride before the clocks go back
Critical Mass this Friday,27th October, start promptly from outside the Glengower Hotel at 6pm. Lights are a good idea because it will be dark before 6.30. This is probably the last evening ride of the year. We will probably retire to a pub afterwards to talk about future times for the rest of the autumn/winter and other things.
Critical Mass
Friday 28th July 2006 will be an historic day for cyclists and
cycling in Aberystwyth. At 6pm the very first Critical Mass bike ride
will start from outside the Glengower Hotel. Bicycles, tricycles,
unicycles and other self-propelled people will make their way around
town, finally returning to The Glen. Cyclists of all ages and abilities
are welcome. This ride marks the start of a Critical Mass tradition
where, on the last Friday of every month, cyclist will get together and
take to the street of the town en masse.
'Critical Mass is a bike ride typically held on the last Friday of every month in cities around the world where bicyclists and, less frequently, skateboarder, roller blades, roller skaters and other self-propelled commuters take to the streets en masse. Critical Mass is not led, and has no officially-stated message, though it is largely understood to be an effort to promote alternative (non-motorized) modes of transportation and to raise awareness about safety issues commuters using non-motorized forms of transportation face in sharing the streets with vehicles.'
Public Enquiry
There will be a public enquiry into the Ystwyth Cycle Trail at Y Lanfa (The Marina), Aberystwyth on 25th, 26th and 27th July where Ceredigion County Council will listen to objections to the CPO's (compulsory purchase orders) that have been served in order to secure the land needed to complete the strategic route from Aberystwyth to Tregaron. Although the public are able to attend this meeting we understand that they will not have the opportunity to voice their opinions. Grŵp Beic members will be at this meeting and we urge all cyclists and members of the public who are in favour of the project to make an appearance to demonstrate their support.
Launch of Lôn Cambria Cycle Route
The Lôn Cambria cycle route will be launched on Thursday 15th June 11.30am at the Elan Valley Visitor Centre. This route runs from Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury via Elan valley, Rhayader, Llanidloes, Newtown and Welshpool and is part of Sustrans national route 81.
National Bike Week
The 19th to the 23rd June is National Bike Week, which includes Bike to School and Bike to Work week. In Aberystwyth there will be a special Bike to School day with a cash prize to be won. This is the time to get those bikes out of the garage and give it a go. Look out for more details soon...
Important Notice
Public Notice
THE CEREDIGION COUNTY COUNCIL (YSTWYTH TRAIL CYCLE TRACK FROM
TREGARON TO ABERYSTWYTH) COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDER 2005
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT AN INSPECTOR APPOINTED BY THE
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WALES WILL ATTEND AT
THE
MEETING ROOM, TECHNIUM, ABERYSTWYTH, Y LANFA, TREFECHAN, ABERYSTWYTH ON
Tuesday, 25th JULY 2006, commencing at 10.00am
TO HOLD A
A copy of the order and of the map referred to
therein can be viewed by arrangement at Neuadd Cyngor Ceredigion,
Penmorfa, Aberaeron.
The said order is made under section
239 of the 1980 Act and if confirmed will authorise the Council to
purchase compulsorily the land and rights described in the Schedule to
the order (namely eighteen plots of former railway land between
Aberystwyth and Tregaron) for the purpose of providing a public amenity
in the form of a cycle track with a right of way on foot ("the Ystwyth
Trail").
The Inquiry will also hear the Council's request
for the Order to be modified as follows:
1. In Table 1 of the
schedule to the Order the description of Plot 2-1 is to be modified by
deleting the plot references "1.2" in line 4 and inserting in its place
the plot reference "1.6"
2. In Table 1 of the Schedule to the Order, the description of Plot 1-2 is to be modified by deleting the metric width value "5" and inserting in its place the metric width value "4".
RUTH SHELTON
Authorised by the Assembly
Plascrug Bridge Opening Bike Ride
Thursday 22 June 08:00 - 09:00
Meet at Plascrug avenue gates, Aberystwyth
Contact Katy Spain from
Ceredigion County Council. The bridge costing £760,000 was funded by
the Welsh Assembly. It has been adopted as part of the adjacent cycle path and is designed for bikes to cross, albeit whilst dismounted.
Family Cycle Fun Day
On the 24th of June between 10.00 am and 2.00 pm a Family Cycle Fun Day event will be happening at Plascrug, Aberystwyth. The event will have safety information, free bike checks, a mountain bike display team, guided cycle tours and a slow bike race. Check out the full details and come along and join in the fun.
Bike to School Day
Thursday 15 June 08:00 - 17:00
Schools in and around
Aberystwyth
Suitable for Kids: (If accompanied)
Ystwyth Trail
Large sections of the Ystwyth Trail have been cleared and are good for cycling. The track is flat and family-friendly. We've put together a description of the Ystwyth Trail between Llanfarian and Trawscoed, with photos so you can see what it's like. We will improve this information in the future, with maps and more information.
Cycling for good health
Grŵp Beic Aberystwyth is calling upon town doctors and GPs to
advise cycling for their patients as a prescription towards good health
and strong hearts. Response from the surgeries in Aberystwyth has been
positive and the group hopes to issue a statement for publication in
the Cambrian News, endorsed by all the town's physicians to the
effect that safe cycling reduces the risk of heart and other health
problems and improves the local air quality through reduced car use.
This endorsement is planned to coincide with the Aber is Green Festival.