Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire County Councils have organised an engagement event about transforming the disused Cardi Bach railway line into a new walking and cycling route.
Both local authorities have been collaborating with Sustrans Cymru, the charity making it easier for everyone to walk, wheel, and cycle, to study the disused route with the aim of building a new, shared-use walking and cycling path.
The long-term aim is for the path to connect Cardigan in the north to Whitland in the south, creating a traffic-free route for locals and tourists to use.
Aoife Blight, Project Manager for Sustrans Cymru said, “We see so much potential for reconnecting communities along this line.
“We know from our visits to the area how much the line has meant to people in the past and would love to see the route bustling with people travelling actively to visit their friends and family.
“We hope the route could one day connect into the wider sustainable transport network too”.
Sustrans Cymru, on behalf of the councils, is now seeking feedback from the people that live, work, and travel in the area who could benefit from the new route.
Sustrans Cymru are currently focusing on sections of the route between Crymych and Llanfyrnach in Pembrokeshire, and Glandwr to Llanglydwen in Carmarthenshire, for their initial feasibility studies.
The scheme aims to make it easier for people to choose walking, wheeling, or cycling to get to local services, and to directly connect communities along the route that have been disconnected since the railway’s closure.
This project is made possible by the Active Travel Fund, which is a Welsh Government fund that supports Welsh local authorities to develop, promote, and support active travel – walking, wheeling, and cycling – schemes in their area.
A public drop-in session will be held on 16th January at the main hall in Ysgol Bro Preseli from 2.30pm to 4.30pm and 5.30pm to 7.30pm.
The session will include a short presentation by Sustrans Cymru’s project staff on the project to date.
Councillor Rhys Sinnet said “This is an opportunity for the community to have updates from our consultants Sustrans with regard to this important project.
“The Cardi Bach walking and cycling route, which we hope will be a real asset to the area, will provide a route which will connect local communities and encourage tourists to visit, helping to boost the economy of the region.”
Members of the public will also have the opportunity to meet with the project team, ask questions, and provide feedback on the proposed route.
Councillor Shon Rees said “We look forward to welcoming people to this event.
“We hope the community will give us their ideas and memories of the Cardi Bach which, through this initiative, can become a well-loved route for the community again.
“As a cycling and walking route it will allow for journeys to be made in a sustainable manner which is good for the environment and the health of users.
“It has the potential to be a high-quality route and an attraction to visitors to the north of both Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.
“The Cardi Bach was and still is such a large part of the village of Crymych and we are fully committed to open this up for everyone to enjoy.”
