Agenda item

RER ran through the attached update, highlighting; a grant application bid for £35,000 submitted for the Wales Coast Path Links and Loops project to improve three key routes, an appointed consultant will provide a consultation opportunity and a final report with all the necessary information to submit a further bid in new financial year.

A second grant bid has also been made to improve access for all, along stretches of the Wales Coast Path in Newport and Monmouthshire. A brief assessment was carried out by Experience Community (EC), in 2023/24 and this project looks at improving the scheme.  A consultant will be asked to provide a costed and designed feasibility report.  The grant will need to be completed by 31^st March 2025.  It again will provide the information to inform a further grant for implementation on the ground. 

Additionally, the Access Improvement Grant is in its final year, and has included the creation of training videos and seen significant volunteer efforts led by Tom Arnold, completing 63 task days.

RER also gave a brief update on bridges, including the Offa’s dyke Treadam bridge and Inglis bridge in Monmouth, with a more detailed overview and presentation followed by AP.

RER also explained nationally Monmouthshire County Council is also involved with the Welsh Government and their aim of creating an All Wales Digital Map of public rights of way and access. The Welsh Government Geography Team (DataMapWales) are seeking to unify Public Rights of Way (PRoW) digital mapping into a single digital map, managed by Data Map Wales.

Monmouthshire has already submitted most of the requested data as a pilot area (this information is already available at access.monmouthshire. LAF members queried the Data map Wales site, which was described as a central website for public open data, with a map element and was available to the public. Interest was expressed by forum members in receiving the data map Wales website link.

RER introduced one of the access teams Field officers, Andy Powell to present the ongoing work he has been involved with on bridges across the county.

AP presented a detailed overview of the current situation with bridges across the county, outlining the varying different types and lengths of structures across the 1362 bridges that can be found.
Their general condition, the challenges being faced in terms of inspection, repairs, closures and replacement.

In particular the process being used once a bridge has been closed, initial site visit, either after a report from a  member of the public, or after a routine inspection, decision to close the bridge by notice (emergency notice lasts up to 24 days), then either programme in works to repair, if able to do so, or seek a closure order (lasting up to 6 months). To enable the bridge to remain closed whilst waiting for a replacement. Bridges in this position are added to a list and prioritised for replacement.

Once a bridge is to be replaced, funding needs to be sought, tenders are requested both to invite contractors to supply a bridge, remove the old one, prepare the ground and install the bridge, arrangements are also made with landowners to gain access, and the bridge installed. Several difficulties can arise during this process, such as the weather, water levels, landownership issues, bridge location, erosion etc. The recent Offa’s dyke bridge was given as an example of where weather and water levels delayed installation and groundwork, and after installing the bridge, further storms meant that the new bridge needed a large tree removing from under neath it, further delaying the opening. Currently, although available, final works to the approaches are needed but this will need drier weather before this can occur.

Additionally, where some bridges that continue to be used, and barriers erected broken, despite the closure, a decision may be made to remove the bridge altogether until a replacement can be installed.

Finally, AP gave the current position of the asset management plan, and this year’s bridge works that are hoped to be achieved, removing 10, replacing up to 15 and 4 with further assessments.