Swansea Council Halts Work on Controversial Cycle Route Through Uplands and Sketty

An immediate halt to work on a cycle route proposed through Uplands and Sketty has been announced by Swansea Council.
The plan is to link the bottom of Walter Road with Sketty a mile-and-a-half  away with a segregated cycle lane on one side, improved pedestrian facilities along with upgrades to public areas in Uplands.
Design work was carried out, a public consultation took place and the council secured Welsh Government Active Travel funding – but the project has been controversial from the outset with businesses alarmed about the disruption the work would cause and questioning whether the cycle path would really encourage more people to swap four wheels for two.
The council said its suspension of the project follows policy and priority changes announced by new administrations in Westminster and Cardiff on economic growth and public transport, along with feedback from Swansea residents and businesses. It does not mean the scheme is scrapped. The council’s cabinet will consider a further report in due course before a decision is made on whether to proceed.
Cllr Andrew Stevens, cabinet member environment and infrastructure, said: “Our transport and highways teams have done an amazing job in creating an extensive walking and cycling network that offers residents and visitors over 120km of safe, enjoyable off-road walking and cycling routes that connect communities, links children to their local schools and are used and enjoyed by residents and visitors daily.
“However, it’s clear that some remaining part of the proposed network, especially those that run through local commercial areas, are much more challenging technically to deliver without sustained disruption. The active travel route for Walter Road and Sketty Road, has identified some important local and broader impacts that need to consider further before deciding whether it is right to continue.”
Cllr Stevens added: “We are aware of misleading comments on social media claiming that decisions were made before people have had a chance to give their views. This is completely untrue.”
It is understood that discussions have taken place with the Welsh Government to try to ensure the normally time-bound Active Travel grant – in this case £2.55 million – is not lost.
Council leader Rob Stewart said: “People want better roads but also cheaper and more reliable bus and rail services. That is what we are attempting to deliver with over £8 million being invested in roads this year, and free bus travel being offered across Swansea during holiday periods.
“With both Governments focusing on economic growth and taking tangible steps to invest in public-owned or controlled transport across the UK, including new bus franchising in Swansea and South West Wales from 2027, and the potential for a new rail metro services in South West Wales being finalised by Transport for Wales, it’s right to reassess how best to prioritise our own transport investment in Swansea.”
The Swansea Labour leader also cited the city’s role as a tourist destination which hosted major events. “Planning for these events rely on the ability to safely divert traffic flows through area like Sketty and Uplands. So, investments must support and grow the local economy.”
Uplands councillor Peter May said he welcomed the halting of the cycle path scheme. In his view “common sense has prevailed”. He said: “The dilemma the council had was the scheme’s ‘engineer-ability’. The last thing we wanted was to rush something through.”
Uplands resident Jayne Keeley, who runs children’s clothes shop Rainbow Clothing, Uplands Crescent, and is also a keen triathlete, agreed with Cllr May. “It’s a good way forward for the time being,” she said. “They need to look at it in a different light.”
Neil Collier, who owns Colliers Photo Services, Uplands, said the volume of objections to the cycle path proposal indicated to him that something was wrong. He regularly cycles to work from his home in Penllergaer and said he understood the logic of the planned new Active Travel route, but he was worried about the speed differential of cyclists coming down the path from the Sketty end compared to those heading up the hill. “It’s the disruption as well,” he said.
Speaking before the council announced its change of plan, Lesley O’Connor, of specialist cake shop Celebrations, Uplands Crescent, said parking had long been an issue in the area. “We don’t want it (the cycle path),” she said. “It’s going to cause an absolute nightmare for customers coming in to pick up cakes.” Meanwhile Louisa Ali, owner of Plants and Papers, Uplands Crescent, said she backed the cycle path as a keen cyclist but was also mindful of how much disruption it would cause. She said even a small water repair job outside diverted footfall away, and added: “There are a lot of people against it.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​