Nicholas Tulp – Monlife

Abergavenny Active Travel Bridge scheme including Llanfoist Links & Castle Meadows 

We are focusing on active travel links between Llanfoist and Abergavenny, with our route designed around a new active travel bridge crossing the River Usk between Merthyr Road and Castle Meadows, and associated links for safer, more attractive and direct sustainable routes into Llanfoist and Abergavenny.  

Monmouthshire County Council has secured £10.4m from Welsh Government’s Active Travel Fund to develop the Abergavenny to Llanfoist Active Travel Scheme. Our construction partner for this scheme, Balfour Beatty, appointed under the SCAPE framework, will soon launch a scheme website – we will share the link here when it is available.

This scheme is a central priority for the development of Monmouthshire County Council’s Active Travel network, addressing the active travel severance point of the Merthyr Road bridge. This funding is bid for in a competitive national bidding process and once allocated is ring-fenced for this active travel project and cannot be spent on other projects, schemes or council services.   

What is the change we expect to see? 

  • Increase in active travel journeys in Abergavenny 
  • Improved connectivity and accessibility for active travel trips in and between Llanfoist and Abergavenny 
  • Improve actual and perceived levels of personal safety and security when walking and cycling 
  • Promotion of sustainable travel as attractive and safe in Abergavenny and Llanfoist. 
Video: Abergavenny Active Travel flythrough of scheme vision. Current construction is focused on delivering the active travel bridge.

Active travel bridge  

Objectives of the active travel bridge scheme  

Provision of a new walking, wheeling and cycling bridge crossing on the Usk between Llanfoist and Abergavenny, downriver of the Usk Bridge (Merthyr Road). The bridge will become the main river crossing for active travel between Llanfoist and Abergavenny, as an alternative to using the narrow footway over the existing road bridge and encourage modal shift as a result.

Identified issues for active travel between Llanfoist and Abergavenny on Merthyr Road 

Merthyr Road/Usk Bridge has long been identified as a severance point for active travel, and MCC has prioritised the development of this route.  The existing bridge over the River Usk provides a very narrow footway on one side and does not cater for cyclists. The road bridge is a listed structure that carries a heavy volume of road traffic. There is currently little scope physically, or with its listed status, to make it more welcoming or safe for active travel. The overall aim is to provide an alternative river crossing for active travel, and ensure effective connections from the bridges (new and existing) into the town centre, allowing healthy travel between homes and key destinations such as schools, Nevill Hall and the town centre. 

Proposed Interventions – Active travel bridge

This scheme will construct a new 3m wide walking, wheeling and cycling bridge across the River Usk, linking Llanfoist to Castle Meadows, Abergavenny. The bridge will be made of a steel beam construction with wooden cladding to ensure that it fits in with the natural surrounding area. Ramps will be constructed to connect the bridge to the paths on Castle Meadows and footway on Merthyr Road, Llanfoist.  

Construction of the bridge is planned to commence in early 2026, with phased work continuing into 2027. Planning permission was granted for the active travel bridge in 2018 as DM/2018/00408, with permission granted in 2025 for non-material amendment to include steel beam construction – planning number DM/2025/00507. 

Balfour Beatty, scheme construction partners, will soon launch a scheme website – we will share the link here when it is available.

Image – Active travel bridge on pier downriver of the road bridge

Castle Meadows

Castle Meadows and Ysbyty Fields are important leisure areas for the community and are crossed by Public Rights of Way (PRoW) and National Cycle Network routes 42 and 46. Improvements to the surfacing of routes on Castle Meadows can support pedestrians and cyclists travelling between Llanfoist and Abergavenny, in combination with the new active travel bridge.   

As the scheme progresses further work will identify possible upgrades to paths within the meadows with the current funding available. The full extent of paths with potential for upgrade on Castle Meadows gained planning permission in 2023, as planning application DM/2022/01831. 

Objectives of the Castle Meadows scheme 

The objectives of the scheme have been derived through identification of key issues (as summarised above), and also according to the objectives set by the MCC and national policy.  The objectives are as follows: 

  • Ensure connections from the town centre through Castle Meadows to Llanfoist are accessible, to allow people the option of alternatives to driving this route. 
  • Increase the number of pedestrians and cyclists using Castle Meadows for commuting and leisure purposes; 
  • Make a positive contribution to air quality by promoting active travel 
  • No significant adverse impacts on environmental sensitive receptors during construction and operation, protect and enhance the historic, built and natural environmental including landscape and settlement character of the area. 

Identified Issues on Castle Meadows 

  • Inaccessible and unattractive route across road bridge causes restricted access to Castle Meadows.
  • Grasscrete paths: The existing grasscrete paths are in a poor state of repair and don’t comply with active travel guidance for path surfaces. They are uncomfortable and difficult for wheelchair / mobility chair users to use.  
  • Restrictions at access points: A self-closing, latch-free gate has been trialled on the meadows for the last two years. The gate opens into the meadows, meaning cows cannot push the gate open and venture out. The existing wooden style kissing gates are restrictive to wheelchairs, mobility scooters, pushchairs, and cyclists gaining access to the meadows.  

Proposed Interventions – Castle Meadows

The WelTAG  (Wales Transport Appraisal Guidance) study of this area looked at ways to improve the provision for active travel on Castle Meadows. Following this study, MCC sought planning permission to upgrade all of the main paths on Castle Meadows, pending funding availability and to allow flexible planning as the bridge plans were developed. MCC does not plan to upgrade all paths within the planning agreement, but is working to include some paths within the current scheme of works. 

Image: Artists impression of Castle Meadows paths. N.B. MCC does not plan to upgrade all paths within the planning agreement as part of the bridge construction works.

Llanfoist Links  

This phase looks at route improvements focused on the Llanfoist side of the River Usk and connections to the active travel bridge and Castle Meadows. Elements of this broad scheme will be included in the construction works, with other sections being brought forward as and when funding allows.  

Objectives of the Llanfoist Links scheme 

  • Improve access to local services, employment, and cultural facilities by Active Travel modes by improving connectivity between Abergavenny and Llanfoist. 
  • Promote and facilitate healthier lifestyles by increasing the number of pedestrians and cyclists using Merthyr Road and The Cutting for commuting purposes. 
  • Make a positive contribution to air quality by promoting active travel in MCC and supporting the reduction of Carbon Dioxide around the Abergavenny / Llanfoist area. 
  • Introduce safe and accessible active travel links and remove conflicts between users around the ‘Waitrose’ Roundabout. 
  • Provide a coherent, direct, and future-proof cycle route which connects with the existing and planned active travel infrastructure. 

Identified issues in active travel between Llanfoist and Merthyr Road Abergavenny 

  • The existing road network in the area is extremely busy, making the environment unappealing for pedestrians, cyclists, and those with mobility impairments.  Analysis of 2011 Census data identified that 15% of drivers in the area travel less than 2km and 8% between 2km and 5km.  Some of these trips could be accommodated by Active Travel modes if adequate Non Motorised User infrastructure would be provided. 
  • There are currently no off-road cycle facilities: as such cyclists have to use the existing carriageway/s to travel. 
  • A lack of adequate crossing facilities at the ‘Waitrose’ roundabout. 
  • At sections of the scheme, footways are narrow and sub-standard, forcing pedestrians into close proximity to the carriageway and traffic. 
  • There are significant perceived road safety issues, particularly along Merthyr Road between the Bridge Inn pub and ‘Waitrose’ roundabout. 
  • The Cutting is recognised as low traffic and, as such, has the potential to serve as a link from Merthyr Road to Llanfoist, but the current link route behind Waitrose Petrol Station is narrow and overgrown at points. 

Proposed Interventions –Llanfoist Links

The Wales Transport Appraisal Guidance (WelTAG) study of this area looked at ways to improve the provision for active travel links between Llanfoist and Abergavenny and proposed the interventions below. Some interventions included on this list will be rolled out as development and construction funding becomes available, with others to be re-investigated once the bridge is constructed. 

  • The widening of the existing footway along the eastern side of Merthyr Road between the Bridge Inn pub and ‘Waitrose’ Roundabout, to accommodate a 3.5m wide shared (pedestrian and cycle) route. To accommodate this proposal, on-street parking at this location will be removed. 
  • The provision of new crossing facilities across three arms of Merthyr Road. 
  • The widening of the existing footway along the eastern side of Merthyr Road between Waitrose Roundabout and the Heads of Valleys Slip Road / Merthyr Road Roundabout to the south to accommodate a 3.5m wide shared (pedestrian and cycle) route.  
  • The widening of the existing footway along the eastern side of Merthyr Road between the Heads of Valleys Slip Road / Merthyr Road Roundabout and Gypsy Lane, to accommodate a 3.5m wide shared (pedestrian and cycle) route.  
  • The provision of improved more direct crossing points across Coopers Way and the eastern and western arms of the Heads of Valleys Slip Road / Merthyr Road Roundabout. 
  • The widening of the existing footway along the back edge of the car park located to the immediate north of ‘Waitrose’ Roundabout, to accommodate a 3.5m wide shared (pedestrian and cycle) route.  
  • The widening of the existing footway along the back of Waitrose Petrol Station between ‘Waitrose Roundabout’ and The Cutting Heads of the Valleys Road underpass, to accommodate a 3.5m wide shared (pedestrian and cycle) route.  
  • The promotion as a ‘Quiet Way’ (through additional signage and road markings) of The Cutting (without impacting the existing access and parking arrangements) between The Cutting Heads of the Valleys Road underpass and Merthyr Road to the south. 
  • The improvement of the existing The Cutting and Merthyr Road priority junction arrangement. 

Llanfoist Links WelTAG study scheme diagrams 

Merthyr Road WaitroseDownload

Proposals along Merthyr Road – Section 1

Merthyr-Road-A465Download

Proposals along Merthyr Road – Section 2 

The Cutting 2Download

Proposals along The Cutting – Section 1

The Cutting 1Download

Proposals along The Cutting – Section 2

For more information on MCC’s work on active travel in Abergavenny, please visit Abergavenny – Monlife

B4245 Rogiet to Undy active travel scheme – FAQ

The Rogiet to Undy B4245 active travel scheme aims to improve journeys between Rogiet and Undy. Several route options have been examined and, whilst additional routes may be developed in the future, a proposed primary route consisting of a shared use active travel path adjacent to the southern side of the B4245 has been assessed to provide the shortest, most direct active travel route between Rogiet and Undy.

Following consultation on the General Arrangement drawings (below), Monmouthshire County Council is using Active Travel Fund core funding for detailed design (including the SAB* process) and land negotiation to progress the scheme towards construction.

*SAB – Sustainable Drainage Systems Approval Body – through which the drainage strategy is approved. The path design will include a swale to capture and manage rainwater runoff, as required with all new construction.

Scheme description

The current B4245 between Undy and Rogiet has no pavement provision. Previous studies along this route have highlighted the need for safe pedestrian and cycle provision, to link into Severn Tunnel Junction railway station and across the Severnside area.

Rogiet and Undy are just over a mile apart, a distance that could be covered using a mobility scooter in half an hour or cycled in less than ten minutes. An active travel route along this section of the B4245 will allow residents of both villages to benefit from the facilities and opportunities offered by their neighbouring villages, without needing access to a car.

Consultation results

219 people examined the proposals and responded to our consultation, either at the in-person event on October 4th 2023 or online. Rogiet Community Council and Magor Town Council submitted comments separately.

B4245 Rogiet-Undy active travel path (Phase 1)

96% of people consulted were ‘very-‘ or ‘quite supportive’ of the proposed Rogiet to Undy active travel path, which is as expected given that there is currently no direct, accessible link for active travel. Many urgently want to have the option of active travel and find existing provision inadequate. The vast majority said the proposed improvements would influence their modal choice for local trips.

Comments focused on the potential for the proposed active travel path to be a safe, accessible, practical, sustainable, healthy, and affordable option. It is seen as a much-needed link ‘for all’ between communities. There was concern from some about the proximity of the path to the B4245, the potential for conflict between path users, the path’s impact on local biodiversity and the possibility of traffic congestion or loss of road width. We will address these concerns through design, applying best practice and analysis of impact to the local setting. Please see the FAQ’s section below for further details.

This route is seen as a step in connecting Magor and Undy to Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicot and further afield. A typical comment said: ‘This is a plan that will benefit the residents and visitors of the related areas, and promoting more environmentally friendly travel modes, e.g., combined of walking/cycling and train instead of driving.’

Station Road (Phase 2)

Over half of people consulted travel along Station Road to get to public transport (Severn Tunnel Junction railway station) and the majority frequently use the route for purposeful journeys. Most said that wider pavements and general improvements to the active travel infrastructure would encourage them to walk and/or cycle along Station Road, where currently more than three quarters of people consulted mainly drive along it.

Rogiet to Caldicot proposed AT route (Phase 3)

92% of respondents said ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Would you support Phase 3 Rogiet to Caldicot Active Travel route section?’

RTU-WSP-66-XX-DR-C-0001-General-Arrangement-Sheet-1-of-3Download
RTU-WSP-66-XX-DR-C-0002-General-Arrangement-Sheet-2-of-3Download
RTU-WSP-66-XX-DR-C-0003-General-Arrangement-Sheet-3-of-3Download

What is active travel? 

Active Travel is a term used to describe walking, wheeling or cycling to a destination (also called “purposeful journeys”). It does not cover walking and cycling done purely for leisure although it could significantly enhance leisure activities by helping to link up networks. Active travel can be used to get to school, work, services and shops, or as one of several modes on a longer journey – for example, walking to the station to catch a bus or train. Monmouthshire County Council’s active travel strategy focuses on journeys of three miles or less, which means improving walking and cycling infrastructure within communities and between close-by villages such as Rogiet and Undy, to make active travel the first natural choice for local journeys.

Why focus on the B4245 between Rogiet and Undy?

The need for improvements in this part of Monmouthshire was highlighted during Monmouthshire County Council’s Integrated Network Map submission to the Welsh Government in 2018. The existing options for active travel between Rogiet and Undy (approximately 1,700 and 4,000 inhabitants, respectively) are limited and inaccessible to various users, due to high traffic speeds and volume, and a lack of barrier-free and safe paths. 

Several options for an active travel link between Rogiet and Undy have been examined and a proposed primary route consisting of a shared use active travel path adjacent to the southern side of the B4245 has been assessed to provide the shortest, most direct option.

The proposed route between Rogiet and Undy is an important link in the wider walking and cycling network. A short and direct active travel route will open up healthy, affordable and sustainable access to services, schools and job opportunities in the two villages, as well as connecting local people and visitors to the existing foot- and cycleways in the Severnside area, bus services along the B4245 and rail services to further afield.  

Levels of active travel are lower in Rogiet and Undy compared to Monmouthshire as a whole. At the same time, the proportion of residents in the local area who drive a car or van is higher than Monmouthshire as a whole (Census 2021). The 2021 Census also indicated that Magor and Rogiet has a high proportion (63.7%) of working-age residents who are likely to travel regularly to commute and therefore would directly benefit from improved access to Caldicot and Severn Tunnel Junction Railway Station.

The Proposals 

A study of potential options for active travel improvements in the area concluded that a three-metre wide, shared-use path to the southern side of the B4245 between Rogiet and Undy is the preferred option. Projects such as this one are usually progressed over several years from concept through to detailed design, following the Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance or WelTAG (see below). Projects are then dependent on the approval of funding from bodies such as Welsh Government for the construction phase. We are currently at the detailed design stage of the process (WelTAG Stage 3). 

As the preferred route is to be for active travel, the process has been based on the Welsh Government’s Active Travel Act Guidance that was published in July 2021. This includes the application of walking and cycling audit tools as well as standards that active travel routes should adhere to. 

Option sifting 

At the start of this project and in line with the Welsh Transport Appraisal process the project team developed a wide list of possible solutions, sufficient to be able to decide whether there are any scheme options worth pursuing and to select a short list of options for more detailed consideration. Options were shortlisted based on: 

  • their ability to prevent, or solve the problem now and in the future; 
  • their ability to meet the objectives set and improve the social, cultural, environmental and economic well-being of Wales; 
  • their short- and longer-term impacts to deliver multiple benefits across the four aspects of well-being and maximise contribution to all seven well-being goals; 
  • their deliverability; and 
  • their robustness to uncertainty and potential to drive long lasting change. 

WelTAG Process 

The proposed scheme will seek approval and funding from the Welsh Government’s Active Travel Fund and has therefore been developed in line with the Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance (WelTAG). The WelTAG process covers the complete lifecycle of a proposed intervention in the transport system from assessment of the problem, consideration of possible solutions and scheme design, through to implementation and project evaluation.

WelTAG studies are an essential part of major transport projects in Wales to help decide which are the most appropriate solutions to develop, and important in the support of bids to Welsh Government for funding grants to complete the works. WelTAG involves a series of project planning stages that follow the life of a project, programme or policy from early ideas to after it is completed. There are five WelTAG stages: Stages 1 and 2 of the project were completed in August 2022, and we are currently at WelTAG Stage 3.

Future phases 

The Rogiet to Undy route (phase 1, shown here as a green line) will complement other Severnside area proposed active travel improvements that Monmouthshire County Council are currently investigating as phases 2 and 3 of this project (red line and blue line, respectively). Phase 2 will focus of developing active travel improvements along Station Road in Rogiet to encourage walking and cycling journeys to Seven Tunnel Junction train station. Phase 3 will progress proposals to continue this route from the train station travelling east, to Caldicot, with the potential to link to National Cycle Network route (NCN) 4 at Station Road in Caldicot.

RTU-WSP-66-XX-DR-C-0005-P02-Work-PhasesDownload

FAQ

When will the route be constructed? 

The successful completion of the WelTAG Stage 3, providing a full business case including detailed designs and delivery information, will allow us to apply for funding to move to WelTAG Stage 4 (construction phase). 

How will the scheme be funded? 

The route will be funded through Welsh Government grants aimed at improvements to sustainable transport modes. 

Why is the route on the south side of the road? 

The settlements of Undy and Rogiet are both predominantly on the south side of the B4245, this alignment of the route will reduce the number of road crossings required, improving the route coherence. In addition, an active travel route is better accommodated on the south side of the M4 underpass due to the cattle pass on the north side of the road.

Why is the route alongside the road? 

Alternative route alignments were considered in the provisional studies for the route, these were discounted due to either public opinion or technical feasibility. The route alongside the road was seen to be a positive for personal safety due to the visible security of others passing. 

The B4245 is a busy road, and a buffer will be provided where possible between this shared use route and the carriageway. This follows the design principles set out in the Active Travel Design Guidance: https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2022-01/active-travel-act-guidance.pdf  

Why can’t cyclists use the road or the NCN route?

This scheme aims to make it possible for a wider range of people to comfortably and safely reach local destinations using active travel. While cycling (as opposed to walking) makes up a higher percentage of active travel around Rogiet and Undy, overall active travel levels are low in the area.

The National Cycle Network section (NCN4) that joins Undy and Rogiet is an indirect route that is largely unlit and unsealed, making it either impractical or unsuitable for a diversity of people to use active travel between Rogiet and Undy.

The proposed shared use active travel path alongside the B4245, a wide single surface, would accommodate a wider range of active travel modes. The path is designed for use by pedestrians and people using wheelchairs and mobility scooters, as well as those on bikes and larger/adaptive cycles. Though some people currently cycle on this section of the B4245, the speed and volume of traffic – as well as the presence of heavy goods vehicles – makes it unlikely that most people will choose to cover this short, direct route by active travel unless a separated path is provided.

What is a ‘shared use active travel path’?

A shared use path is a path for use by any mode of active travel, be it walking, wheeling or cycling, without any physical separating features or markings. Cars and motorbikes are not permitted on a shared use path. The proposed shared use path is designed as three metres wide, with the exception of the section of the M4 overbridge where slight narrowing may be necessary. The route will be lit and separated from the road traffic.

Shared use paths are recommended in the Active Travel Act guidance for inter-urban roads such as the B4245 between Rogiet and Undy, where the number of users of different modes is unlikely to reach a level where separate provision – and the consequent environmental, land, materials and cost impact – would be justified. Routes with a wide single surface are better able to accommodate larger cycles, such as those used by disabled people, and people in wheelchairs. Shared use paths allow for flexible use depending on the time of day – for example, cyclists may be the majority group during the weekday peak, and pedestrians and those using mobility scooters during daytimes and at the weekend.

Shared use routes are designed to provide sufficient space so that cyclists can comfortably overtake groups of pedestrians and slower cyclists, in accordance with Active Travel Act guidance. Illegal use of active travel paths by people on motorbikes and e-scooters is a police matter and should be duly reported by calling 111.

How does this affect plans for a Magor & Undy Walkway station?

Monmouthshire County Council is supportive of plans for Magor and Undy Walkway Station as it will encourage and support active travel, help the modal switch from road to rail and lead to a reduction in carbon emissions and air pollution in the area. The meantime addition of an active travel route between Undy and Rogiet complements plans for a walkway station, offering the option of car-free trips and embedding the choice of active travel and sustainable transport in local people’s travel habits.

Is there enough space, will greenery be removed and will the road be narrowed?

The proposed active travel route will require the redesign of parts of the road and verge, and the acquisition of strips of land from private landowners. The current road width varies along this portion, the scheme will make the road a consistent width of six and a half metres, which is the current minimum width of the road.

Monmouthshire County Council’s land team is engaging with landowners to acquire the land required for the scheme. The relevant landowners have already been contacted by the ecology team who required permission to enter private land to carry out ecology surveys in preparation for this scheme.

Where necessary, verges, hedges and field boundaries will be re-designed, along with field accesses and walls. The redesign includes the translocation or replacement planting of hedges and trees. Ensuring that the scheme brings a net benefit to biodiversity is fundamental of Monmouthshire County Council and a requirement for Welsh Government funding of the scheme.  The scheme will be appropriately assessed for ecological constraints and opportunities as part of the active travel project. Monmouthshire County Council’s Green Infrastructure team will work closely with the project team to ensure that impacts are minimised and opportunities are maximised to contribute towards nature recovery.

Contact us

If you would like to contact the project team, please email ActiveTravel@monmouthshire.gov.uk  

Williams Field Lane to Monnow Bridge Active Travel Route

A complete and accessible active travel route from Kingswood Gate housing estate, Monmouth, to Monmouth town centre via Wonastow Road Industrial Estate, Overmonnow Primary School and Old Monnow Bridge, with onward connections to Bridges Community Centre, Monnow Vale Community Hospital, Rockfield Road car park (MCC) and Monmouth skatepark.

The scheme was divided into phases:

WFL AT scheme on map

Overall scheme objectives

  • Provide a coherent, direct, comfortable, and attractive walking and cycling network from Overmonnow to surrounding communities, services, and facilities across Monmouth;
  • Increase levels of sustainable access to employment, health, education, and services;
  • Positively impact actual and perceived pedestrian, cyclist, and wheelchair user’s safety along and across the study area;
  • Support modal shift in Monmouth towards more sustainable forms of transport;
  • Reduce the negative impacts of transport on the natural and built environment.

Why were changes proposed?

The need for an improved route to Overmonnow Primary School was first recognised during Monmouthshire County Council’s Active Travel Integrated Network Map (INM) submission to the Welsh Government in 2018. Wonastow Road is an arterial route into the town and industrial area for vehicle traffic, but providing active travel routes in the area was challenging due to the legacy road layout, lack of footway and width in some sections, and a ditch/culvert that runs along the side of the road. A public right of way running between Kings Fee, Overmonnow, and St Thomas Road, Drybridge, offered a route away from sometime heavy vehicle traffic, but was a dirt path that was dark and inaccessible at times.

The housing development at Kingswood Gate has been one of the key drivers for changes being proposed, responding to local population growth by supporting modal shift and reducing pressure on local highway network. Walking, wheeling and cycling provision have a significant role to play in mitigating vehicle congestion, pollution, and health and wellbeing issues related to car-dependent lifestyles.

How was the scheme funded?

Funding for the various elements of this scheme has been granted from the Welsh Government Active Travel Fund, Safe Routes in the Communities (SRiC) fund as well as Section 106 monies from local developments.

Kingswood Gate path

Constructed 2025

The Kingswood Gate housing estate lies to the West of Overmonnow Primary School and was built circa 2016 and contains over 300 houses. The estate is connected by road to Monmouth by Wonastow Road. This road has poor pavement infrastructure with no scope to improve sections, high levels of HGV movement with the local industrial estate and a lack of active travel infrastructure. There is little potential to improve this corridor, due to the proximity of roadside culvert and neighbouring properties. The pedestrian route provided with the development of the estate was not sufficiently accessible or direct, and the Section 106 funding from the estate set aside for development of the preferred ‘desire line’ route across the Kingswood Gate meadow proved insufficient to complete the path. MCC therefore developed the path using successive rounds of funding from the Welsh Government’s Active Travel Fund (in addition to the Section 106) and, in 2025, £338,000 construction funding was secured by MCC from Welsh Government Safe Routes in Communities (SRiC) Fund.

This phase of the scheme has taken longer to complete than originally planned. Land ownership, changing the alignment of the Public Right of Way, sensitive ecology, flooding and funding cycles have all been factors in increasing the time the process took. The path was opened for use in November 2025.

The scheme includes:

  • A 3 metre-wide walking, wheeling and cycling path
  • A culverted crossing over the ditch from the meadow into Kingswood Gate estate (West end of the meadow)
  • Sustainable Urban Drainage (SUDs) features for ground water management along the length of the path
  • Biodiversity-friendly low-level lighting
  • Connection to the already constructed Wonastow Industrial estate crossing and the Williamsfield Lane path.

Walking and cycling data will be collected over the next couple of years to help build a picture and show trends of usage of the route. The Williams Field Lane section of the route saw increased use after its installation and continues to show good usage and obvious trends that people are using the route to go to and from school or a place of work. With the addition of the new Kingswood Gate section to this route it will allow even more people to choose to walk or cycle into Monmouth. The completed route connects directly to the crossing in Wonastow Industrial Estate, on to Williamsfield Lane and finally joins the  Wonastow Road/Drybridge Street active travel paths, creating a continuous, direct and comfortable route for walking, wheeling and cycling between Kingswood Gate and the centre of Monmouth.

Image: Before and after – Active Travel route through the Kingswood Gate Meadow 
Image: Before and after – Culverted crossing from the meadow into Kingswood Gate estate 

Wonastow Road to Monnow Bridge including Rockfield Road and Drybridge Street

Constructed in 2024

This phase of the scheme focussed on Wonastow Road, Drybridge Street and Rockfield Road and creating a connection between the Phase 1 Williams Field Lane and the Monnow Bridge. It provides improved access to Bridges Community Centre, Monnow Vale Hospital and the facilities and services within the town centre and beyond such as the leisure centre and Comprehensive School. It also provides a connection from the MCC free car park and Rockfield Road skatepark to the town centre.

Historically the roads in this area have a lot of traffic including large lorries accessing the Wonastow Industrial Estate. The road layout which included a painted mini roundabout allowed vehicles to move at speed even after the 20mph restriction was brought in. Together these issues alongside narrow pavements and poor provision for crossing the road made the area feel unsafe and uninviting for those walking and wheeling.

The scheme included:

  • Widening the existing footway on the northern side of Wonastow Road to accommodate a shared-use footway/cycleway.
  • Replacing the existing Wonastow Road/Drybridge Street/Rockfield Road mini-roundabout with a priority junction (T-junction).
  • Providing a parallel crossing (like a zebra crossing but with a lane for cycling) on the Rockfield Road junction arm
  • Providing an informal crossing (dropped kerb and tactiles) on the side road arm of the junction (Wonastow Road).
  • Widening the existing footway on Rockfield Road from the new priority junction to Monmouth skatepark.
  • Widening of a short section of the existing footway along Drybridge Street near the Monnow Bridge roundabout
  • Removing sections of on-street parking along Wonastow Road to deliver the route in line with the Active Travel Act Guidance.
  • Providing a parallel crossing across Wonastow Road Industrial Estate Road
Image: Scheme proposal for Williamsfield Lane to Monnow Bridge 
Image: Before and after – Roundabout and Rockfield Road crossing 
Image: Before and after – Changes made converting the mini roundabout to T-junction 
Image: Before and after – Footway widened to Shared Use Path along Wonastow Road 

Wonastow Industrial Estate parallel crossing

Also as part of this phase of works, a parallel crossing (like a zebra crossing, but with a lane for cycling) was installed across the Wonastow Industrial Estate road, as this road carries large vehicles. This crossing is key in linking the Kingswood Gate path to the Williams Field Path and give those who walk, wheel and cycle a place to cross.

Image: Before and after – Parallel crossing at Wonastow Road Industrial Estate 

Williams Field Lane Phase 1

Constructed in 2022

The first phase of the scheme was the Williams Field Lane path. The path links multiple housing estates allows for direct, safe access to Overmonnow Primary school, the town centre and other facilities. Constructed in 2022, the scheme provided a 3m wide walking, wheeling and cycling route from the Wonastow Industrial Estate through to where Williams Field Lane connects with Wonastow Road. The route replaced a well-used but muddy track and primarily allowed for much safer access to Overmonnow Primary School whilst benefitting wider network connections to the town centre. The path features low-level lighting, designed to minimise impact on bats and other local wildlife. As a joint effort between MCC departments, a play park in Kings Fee was also constructed as part of this route phase.  The play park, built either side of the path, allows for “play along the way” as well as an outdoor education space for Overmonnow Primary School. This section of the route was recognised in May 2025 as a benchmark for other Active Travel and “play along the way” schemes across Wales – https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/2025/05/monmouthshire-county-council-will-use-funding-to-improve-play-areas/ 

Data on route usage is gathered to monitor impact and usage trends. In the 3 years the route has been in place the data has showed an increase of traffic at peak times, giving evidence that the route is being used for ‘purposeful journeys’ such as getting to school or a place of work.

There is a short, narrow section running between two large industrial premises just off Wonastow Industrial Estate Road. Whilst the path still allows access, it is narrow and anyone wheeling or cycling along that section should exercise caution and look out for other users. Currently plans to widen this section are on hold due to the prioritisation of other schemes.

Images: The Williams Field Lane active travel path, play park and outdoor learning area 

Data and Impact 

This route has been monitored for walking, wheeling and cycling usage throughout its development. The data shows a trend of increased use at weekday school-times, which suggests the route is useful for purposeful journeys, such as trips to school and work, in addition to leisure journeys. Through anonymised data collection, path usage is monitored to measure the impact of route improvements. 

Image: Data collection shows trends in path usage

For more information on MCC’s work on active travel in Monmouth, please visit Monmouth – Monlife