The current footway leading out of Gowerton along Bryn-Y-Mor Road B4295 / Penclawdd Road heading west to Penclawdd is not a fit and proper path for users to connect between both villages safely. This footway is roughly 1.1km long and is the missing link between shared use paths currently along this road. 

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Historically there have been proposals to remedy this footway which have failed to reach a successful solution. With the rise in popularity of pedestrians and cyclists combined with Welsh Government ambitions for Active Travel plans this missing link acts as a barrier to motivate people to use this more frequently.  

The slim width of this path and overgrown hedges, combined with the closeness to the carriageway which elevates the sense of speed and volume of vehicles adds to an unpleasant experience. The width of the footway is not conducive for people with disabilities or mobility scooters, families with buggies or prams, especially when you must negotiate oncoming users.

It is well recognized that Gowerton has high traffic volumes especially at school commute times and this missing link shows its disadvantage by not encouraging more sustainable transport modes.  

The shared use path from Gowerton currently ends abruptly whereby cyclists are faced with making the challenge of joining the carriageway, then contend with a particular rough road surface and manoeuvre many potholes. These obstacles tend to discourage many cyclists who reasonably decide its safer to continue along the footway which compounds the risks to pedestrians and other users of the path.

We believe that correcting this missing link to develop it as a shared use path will benefit communities from both villages, improve road safety, reduce barriers for active travel, encourage more healthier behaviours for all ages and abilities to enjoy the fantastic views along the Loughor estuary.