Sustrans proposes new cycle route in the Wye Valley

Sustrans announced today that it hopes to breathe life into the old Wye Valley Railway line by transforming it into a walking and cycling route between Chepstow, Tintern and Brockweir. The sustainable transport charity has submitted a planning application for this new path, which would pass through the Tidenham tunnel, taking walkers and cyclists approaching from the south into the spectacular Lower Wye Gorge.

As this route would wind through some of Britain’s most beautiful landscapes, Sustrans have designed the path to have minimal impact on the local landscape and ecology. The planning application is accompanied by a detailed environmental statement, which assesses the impact of the proposal on the surrounding countryside.

As part of this plan for a walking and cycling route, a new lightweight bridge would span the Wye, replacing the lost railway bridge on the approach to Tintern Old Station Visitor Centre. This would allow local residents and visitors much better access between the villages of Brockweir and Tintern and the Visitor Centre.

Local people who want a safe means of walking or cycling between the Wye villages and Chepstow have long campaigned for this path, which would also prove accessible for people with limited mobility or in wheelchairs.

Rupert Crosbee, Regional Negotiator for Sustrans, said: “We are very pleased at long last to put forward this planning proposal. We have made every effort to produce a proposal which is environmentally sensitive, as befits this picturesque location. We believe that the path will become highly popular and well-used without detriment to the environment.”
As the proposal crosses county boundaries, it can be seen at both the Forest of Dean and Monmouthshire Council planning offices.

http://www.sustrans.org.uk