Agenda item

To scrutinise the Active Travel projects as part of the Council Plan 2023-28, Green Gwynedd.

It was resolved:

·       To accept the report, noting the observations made during the discussion.

·       That the Committee welcomed the work of trying to meet the maintenance costs of active travel routes.

·       To recommend to the Cabinet Member for Environment that:

Ø  there was a need to look at expenditure for the maintenance of active travel routes and costs of grass cutting/growth on verges to consider whether there were any potential savings.

Ø  questions about the maintenance of active travel routes and a question about local issues should be included in the public consultation.

Ø  risk assessment arrangements should be examined.

 

The report was presented by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Head of Environment Department, Assistant Head of Environment Department (Transport) and the Traffic and Projects Service Manager. The following main points were highlighted.

 

Members were reminded that there was a wide range of schemes in place across the County, in both rural and urban areas. Examples were shared of similar projects in progress by Council partners to give a complete picture of the active travel network.

 

It was explained that projects were prioritised through the implementation of two grant streams which were funded by the Welsh Government. It was elaborated that one related specifically to active travel and safe routes within communities and for schools. The need to assess different projects to ensure that they met the criteria of those grants in order to be approved was detailed. It was updated that active travel plans also received further consideration under the Regional Transport Plan.

 

It was reported that active travel developments were being regularly updated with different projects at different levels of maturity. It was noted that this allowed new routes to be developed on a regular basis to meet the needs of communities.

 

It was noted that the Department was keen to increase the grant opportunities available in this area in the future. The ongoing challenge of maintaining these routes was explained and members were reminded that capital funding was provided to install the infrastructure but no additional funding was allocated to the Council to maintain them. It was acknowledged that a number of these routes were developed next to highways but it was emphasised that the work programme for highway maintenance did not meet the needs of users of the active travel routes to ensure that they were adequately swept and ensure that vegetation was controlled. The hope was that successfully funding an effective maintenance programme would achieve the aim of the project such as reducing traffic congestion and ensuring that there were no parking problems in urban areas. It was noted that the department had submitted a One-off Bid for funding to try and meet the demand for this work this year. It was emphasised that officers were also developing a package to support and equip schools to promote the use of these routes into the future.

 

Pride was expressed that the Department was working with the Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board to develop routes that would assist Council partners. A specific example was shared of an active travel route in the Penrhosgarnedd area of Bangor, where it was hoped that the use of those routes would reduce the traffic and parking burden for the Health Board at Ysbyty Gwynedd and the wider area. Members were reminded that maps of active routes were available detailing their locations across Gwynedd and nationally.

 

It was emphasised that there was no risk assessment in place should the situation arise where there was no funding from the Welsh Government for the maintenance of the routes. Particular attention was drawn to damage to the Lôn Eifion route in 2025 following a storm, noting that part of the route was now closed. The cost of renewing the route had been estimated to be around £90,000 and work was underway to find sources to fund it as soon as possible.

 

Reference was made to financial sources confirming that active travel schemes would receive financial support from the North Wales Corporate Joint Committee, with a view to developing a wider network of routes regionally.

 

It was explained that the development and maintenance of active travel routes was the responsibility of Cyngor Gwynedd and confirmed that Town and Community Councils were not expected to do so. However, Community Councils and members of the public were thanked for their work in tidying up the paths by assisting in litter picking and clearing the paths for users.

 

It was reported that engagement work had been undertaken within this area of work as a public consultation on the Regional Transport Plan was recently completed. It was also noted that over 2000 responses had been received as active travel maps were introduced in 2001, reinforcing the public interest in the development of the scheme.

 

It was noted that £2.4 million had been allocated to fund some of the scheme's projects during the 2026/27 financial year, explaining that this would not be adequate to cover all projects.

 

During the discussion, the following observations were made by the Members:-

 

The list of upcoming projects was detailed, noting that a number of developments such as a route between Caernarfon and Caeathro had been scheduled for the long term. Members were reminded that a fatal accident had occurred in this area stressing the need to develop the path. In response to the observations, the Assistant Head of Department confirmed that projects that had been scheduled for the long term were likely to be delivered in approximately 10 years or more, with medium-term projects being delivered in 5 to 10 years. Further, it was sympathised that a road accident had occurred in this area recently and also recognised that this was, unfortunately, the case for a number of other areas in Gwynedd that would benefit from similar routes.

 

The budget for the maintenance of these routes was considered. It was asked if there were any examples of areas where the costs of cutting grass and road verges had decreased over time as grassy road verges were replaced by a tarmac path. Similarly, were there examples where highway maintenance costs had increased due to increased work in sweeping and maintaining active travel routes as they were located on highway verges. In response to the observations, the Assistant Head of Department thanked members for their observations and stated that work would be done to assess budgets to look into the matter.

 

In response to an enquiry, the Assistant Head of Department confirmed that the possibility of funding the maintenance costs of the active travel routes through a Visitor Levy could be explored.

 

In response to queries and observations regarding town and community councils, the Assistant Head of Department confirmed that councils were not expected to spend on active travel routes. They were thanked for their work in working with the Council for their maintenance and for creating a network of similar routes in some areas. It was explained that the Council was also working with them in relation to the Rights of Way Improvement Plan and noted that further information about that plan could be received in the future.

 

In response to a further enquiry on the repairs to be carried out on a section of the Lôn Eifion route in Penygroes, the Assistant Head of Department confirmed that this section of the path was expected to be open by Easter. It was elaborated that work was being carried out over the next few weeks to commission the work. It was pointed out that two members of staff were co-ordinating the project of developing the paths and they were thanked for their work in trying to make the paths accessible to users. He went on to note that this meant that it was not currently possible to carry out inspections on trees in order to assess risk, noting that if successful, the One-off Bid the Department had applied for would be used to address this type of work.

 

It was stressed that officials were constantly lobbying for more funding to develop the network of active travel routes, noting that projects that had been programmed for work in the medium and long term would be delivered faster if the lobbying work was successful.

 

The members expressed their thanks for the report.

 

RESOLVED

·       To accept the report, noting the observations made during the discussion.

·       That the Committee welcomes the work of trying to meet the maintenance costs of active travel routes.

·       To recommend to the Cabinet Member for Environment that:

Ø  there is a need to look at expenditure for the maintenance of active travel routes and costs of grass cutting/growth on verges to consider whether there are any potential savings.

Ø  questions about the maintenance of active travel routes and a question about local issues should be included in the public consultation.

Ø  risk assessment arrangements should be examined.