Article

Active Travel, which aims to give as many people as possible the ability to choose an alternative to motorised travel, is defined as walking, cycling and wheeling for everyday purposeful short-distance journeys, not including journeys purely made for recreation or social reasons.

As part of the council’s active travel programme, a study has been carried on out on how the roads in the Sandfields area could be improved so that walking, cycling and wheeling are safer and more attractive options for short trips.  

Possible improvements range from small scale changes, like providing dropped kerbs and tactile paving, to bolder ideas like creating new cycle tracks and pedestrian crossings. 

The council’s work is at an early stage and nothing is fixed or decided yet.  The council is keen to hear your views and will use feedback to review and improve the ideas.  

 The eleven proposed future routes are:
1.    Seaway Parade, Handel Avenue, Purcell Avenue & Scarlett Avenue
2.    Princess Margaret Way
3.    Victoria Road & St Paul’s Road
4.    Dalton Road
5.    Western Avenue & St Hellier Drive
6.    Parry Road, Citrine Avenue & Silver Avenue
7&8.    Golden Avenue, Fairway, Southdown Road, Acacia Avenue & Southville Road
9.    Southdown Road, Fairway, Vivian Park Drive & Hospital Road
10.     Bevin Avenue, Romney Road, Sandown Road, Sunnybank Road, Moorland Road & Chanel View
11.     Newbridge Road & Riverside Road

A face-to-face engagement event has been arranged for Thurs 25th January 2024 at the Aberavon Leisure and Fitness Centre from 2pm-7pm. People can view detailed maps showing all the proposals. Members of the Active Travel team will be present to answer queries and record opinions.

To view the proposals online and have your say visit our website at www.npt.gov.uk/activetravel. The online survey will be open between January 18th to 16th Feb 2024.

Implementation of the proposed measures will be subject to the Council receiving grant funding from the Welsh Government.  It is important for residents to note that Active Travel funding can only be used by the Council for improvements to walking, cycling and wheeling projects and cannot be used for any other purpose.

Cllr Wyndham Griffiths, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Transport and Connectivity, said: “By supporting more people in Sandfields to walk wheel and cycle for everyday journeys, we will help improve the health and wellbeing of our residents, create safer communities, reduce congestion on our roads and reduce environmental impacts.

“We look forward to what residents in the area tell us during this period of consultation about our Active Travel plans in the Sandfields area.”