Newtown walking and cyclist scheme gets £200,000 boost

The funding from the Welsh Government will go towards Newtown's Active Travel Network scheme.

Powys County Council's main aspiration is building a pedestrian and cycle route along Llanidloes Road to Dolfor Junction, a link path from Treowen housing estate to the train station, and improvements to the walking and bike paths between the railway station, town centre and bus station.

Montgomeryshire AM Russell George approached the First Minister Carwyn Jones earlier this summer after the council was unsuccessful in a bid for funding.

He said: "While the Welsh Government's funding will not enable all of Powys County Council's aspirations to become a reality and additional funding will have to be sought, it is a welcome boost towards transforming the accessibility of Newtown.

"This funding will now allow Powys County Council to make a start on putting active travel such as walking and cycling at the heart of planning decisions for residents and visitors to Newtown, allowing it to take advantage of the opportunities which the new bypass will ultimately provide to regenerate the town."

The Active Travel Act came into law in Wales in 2014 and places a legal duty on all local authorities to develop a safe network for all pedestrians and cyclists.

Powys Council's long term aspiration is to construct a bridge over the River Severn which is one of the main barriers to stop people cycling and walking into Newtown.

Newtown North County Councillor, Councillor Daniel Rowlands added: "I’m delighted that initial funding has now been provided by the Welsh Government after the First Minister was pressed by our AM, Russell George, to provide in-year funding to support Newtown’s Active Travel bid.

"While further funding will be required to achieve all of Powys County Council's aspirations, this could be the start of something transformational for Newtown and I will also look to support the project in any way I can.”