A protest is being organised this weekend against Swansea Council’s decision to resurface Old Carriage Drive in Clyne Valley Country Park as part of its Active Travel programme.
‘Overwhelming opposition’ from residents
Local resident Will Allen said hundreds of people responded to his online post raising concerns about the scheme, with the “overwhelming majority” opposed.
“We wrote to councillors, Active Travel officers, MPs and MSs and were told that our concerns were being considered. However today they got back to us to say they are ploughing ahead with the scheme,” he said.
Allen added:
“I feel angry and frustrated at this – someone drew a line on a map during a city‑wide consultation, after which we hear nothing until the work is irrevocably approved by the Council. The feedback we provide when we finally learn is politely listened to but basically ignored.”
“As polite emails have not got anywhere I have decided to organise a protest. It should be well‑attended, and will give people the chance to show their concerns and highlight the beauty and history of the location,” he said.
Council defends scheme as part of Active Travel duty
In a letter to campaigners, Stephen Williams, Swansea Council’s Active Travel Officer, said Old Carriage Drive was identified in the 2021 Active Travel Network Map consultation and is intended to provide a safe, direct off‑road link between Killay and Derwen Fawr.
“This route is important as it reduces the distance required to travel actively between Killay and Derwen Fawr, and enables those journeys to be made free from traffic,” he wrote.
Williams said the resurfacing would not change the bridleway’s designation or access points, but would improve drainage and accessibility.
“We believe that by improving the surface of this path, we can enable more journeys to be undertaken actively, without disadvantaging the needs of any existing user group,” he added.
He also pointed to wider benefits:
“If we are to improve outcomes such as health, environmental, economic, obesity rates, and travel independence for children, we will need to make changes to our physical environment. We accept that some members of the public will not welcome these changes, however we believe this scheme will enable more journeys to be undertaken actively.”
Concerns over housing development
Former council cabinet member Jen Raynor suggested the resurfacing could be linked to future housing development.
“One of the key drivers to making this route into a mini tarmac road is the likely chance of the fields adjacent to the route being granted planning permission for houses. If it can be said there is an Active Travel route then less space is needed for car parking so more houses can be squeezed onto the land,” she wrote.
Raynor added:
“I was a councillor when the first Active Travel routes were proposed and this carriageway was certainly not proposed for tarmacking. In fact I and other councillors were assured that the Country Park would retain a variety of routes and surfaces because of the different users.”
Calls for councillor involvement
Local resident Carol Edwards urged campaigners to keep pressing elected members, pointing to a previous case where community pressure stopped a cycle path plan in Uplands.
“It was because of a lot of complaints, and the involvement of local councillors, that the active travel plan to put a cycle path through Uplands from the railway station was stopped,” she said.
“Councillors’ involvement is really important, and getting many people to write a short email to the Council with reasons why it shouldn’t proceed regardless of what the Council have decided.”
Protest details
The protest is due to take place at 4pm on Saturday 25 October at the Clyne Valley Road entrance to the woods. Organisers say they expect a strong turnout from local residents opposed to the scheme.
