Agenda item

We considered the report of the application and late correspondence which was recommended for approval subject to the conditions outlined in the report and subject toNatural Resources Wales (NRW) endorsing the Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA).

The local Member for Wyesham, also a Planning Committee Member, outlined the following points:

·         In November 2017 local residents put forward the idea of a pedestrian bridge at Wyesham to the local Authority.

·         For many years pedestrians and cyclists have had to use the current road bridge to cross the river. Residents have had to contend with Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), pollution, lack of cycling facilities and the lack of safe links to Wyesham and beyond.

·         Monmouth Town Council Active Travel Steering Group had been established and with Monmouthshire County Council officers the initial feasibility Study had identified the need for an active travel bridge at this location.

·         Local volunteers had spent their time collecting the data required to secure Welsh Government funding. Local people had been the driver of this proposed scheme.

·         The road has very high volumes of traffic accessing the Forest of Dean and the M50 motorway. It was considered that this will only increase in the future with proposed housing development scheduled in the Forest of Dean.

·         The local Member provided the Committee with statistical data to support the need for an active travel bridge across the river Wye at Wyesham.

·         The existing bridge is the only route the Wyesham residents can use to access education, work and the town and must share this road with HGVs and other vehicles. Unsupervised school children are most at risk from such heavy flows of traffic during peak periods of traffic flow over the bridge.

·         The bridge forms part of the designated trails, the Wye Valley Walk, Offa’s Dyke National Trail and is a vital link in the national cycle network.

Having considered the report of the application and the views expressed, the following points were noted:

·         With regard to accessibility for people with impaired vision, officers would discuss with the developer whether they have had dialogue with Sight Cymru and any other expert interest groups that could provide advice on this matter. It was noted that an accessibility stakeholder meeting had been held on 9th March 2023 regarding visually impaired people. 

·         The existing bridge is no longer safe for cyclists and pedestrians.

·         There are no proposed cycle parking areas to be located by Monmouth Rowing Club. However, officers could put this matter to the applicant for consideration.

·         There is a condition in the report of the application for a construction traffic management plan which could address the matter relating to the use of the nearby car park by construction workers with a view to minimising any disruption.

·         In response to a question raised regarding how local residents in nearby cottages might be affected by the proposed new bridge, it was noted that the walkway will be in the region of 40 metres from the nearest windows of these properties and 25 metres to the nearest part of the gardens. The bridge will be elevated and will have a 1.8 metre screen.  The lighting on the bridge will be low key along the decked area and there will be no light spill from the bridge itself into the surroundings.

·         A construction traffic management plan will be established to minimise disruption on the site.

·         Officers will liaise with the applicant to investigate whether PIR lighting will work on the bridge and ramps.

·         Discussions will be held with the developer to ensure that vegetation is maintained at a low level to improve visibility along the path near the access to the A40 to ensure cyclists and pedestrians can be seen.

It was proposed by County Councillor Jayne McKenna and seconded by County Councillor Maureen Powell that application DM/2022/01800 be approved subject to the conditions outlined in the report and subject to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) endorsing the Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA). Also, a revised plan to be presented to the Delegation Panel for approval to show the car park on the western bank to have parking spaces for two vans and trailers for the local kayaking businesses to use; ask the applicant to look at the right angle of the path on the western bank to splay it or make sure the planting alongside it does not obscure visibility for path users; the applicant to investigate whether PIR lighting would work on the bridge and ramps.

Upon being put to the vote the following votes were recorded:

In favour of the proposal                 -           14

Against proposal                              -           0

Abstentions                                       -           0

The proposition was carried.

We resolved that application DM/2022/01800 be approved subject to the conditions outlined in the report and subject to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) endorsing the Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA). Also, a revised plan to be presented to the Delegation Panel for approval to show the car park on the western bank to have parking spaces for two vans and trailers for the local kayaking businesses to use; ask the applicant to look at the right angle of the path on the western bank to splay it or make sure the planting alongside it does not obscure visibility for path users; the applicant to investigate whether PIR lighting would work on the bridge and ramps.