The Chepstow to Tintern path straddles an international boundary, with all the complications that that brings.
Like the Two Tunnels route, it will reuse an ‘Engineering heavy’ railway line with tunnels and a large bridge. It’s a ‘Connect2’ project – and it is one of only two Connect2 projects that started as a community-led idea.
So lots of similarities with the Bath 2-tunnels project.
The development of the Two Tunnels route has been blessed with a lot of support from near and far, as well as having concerns and issues that needed answering and resolving.
The Chepstow to Tintern route is going through the same fire, but for various reasons the outcome is, for the moment, more contentious. This is partly because the previous two applications were refused, as they identified issues which needed to be addressed to make the form of the route better suited to people local to the path. The current application addresses these issues. However a number of opposers simply don’t want the route to happen. For the planning officers to pass the applications they must feel that the decision they make is well supported by the public, and both quantity of responses and quality will count. So, if you agree with the proposal, please do act to support it.
Look at the website LINK. Personally, I think it will be a brilliant and low impact development. Many of you will know the quality of the landscape of the Wye Valley, but you may find that is often presented as an example of ‘Untrammelled nature’.
It actually derives much of its character from the monastic activities there, from the defensive nature of its role as a boundary, and as an industrial landscape that has been rather scarred by quarrying operations that would not be allowed today, and forestry operations that in once case risk destabilising a hillside. It is a species-rich area. The Chepstow to Brockweir path will not remotely detract from the area’s qualities, it will not impinge on residents. It won’t swamp local amenities in swathes of lycra. It will support local jobs and businesses. When the route is built, it will be seen that ‘There is no bad’ and the sooner it’s done the better. Whether it happens or not is very much down to individuals who, if they agree, need to speak up and support its planning application.
The links to the planning application are on the home page of the web site given above. Please add your voice to this vital new link to the national cycle way project.
My submission:-
Dear Planning Committee,
I urge you to approve this application. This is an exciting addition to the National network that Sustrans have been building.
It will be accessible to all. It will be built by Lottery money. It will encourage cycling and walking and thus improve health. It will provide a good use of this disused facility. It will not affect wildlife. It will be good for the local economy. It will connect communties.