County Set To Be Cycling Capital Of Wales

Carmarthenshire is set to become the cycling capital of Wales with major investment being made in the growing sport. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The county already has a reputation for being a great place for mountain biking in the Brechfa, Cwm Rhaeadr and Crychan forests, and for the Celtic Trail, part of which runs along the Carmarthenshire coastline from Loughor in the east to Laugharne in the west. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Now there are plans for a new velodrome in Carmarthen with investment of £286,000 from the County Council, and £296,000 from Sport Wales; £500,000 on a closed circuit facility in partnership with Welsh Cycling; and a £5million expansion on the Tywi Valley cycleway, which will link Carmarthen with Llandeilo. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Other investments include: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Amman Valley Cycleway – £350k which all but completes the Carmarthenshire elements of this 10 year project
• A4138 – £225k in constructing phase 1 which links Llangennech to Dafen
• Pembrey Canal – £330k joint scheme with Sustrans and the Big Lottery (coastal communities) completing the route that links Burry Port Harbour, the MCP, and Pembrey Country Park with Kidwelly and the Gwendraeth Valley cycle route
• Urban linkages – Around £200,000 for a number of routes linking key employment centres in Carmarthen and Llanelli
• Further investment in Safe Routes