Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) is working to develop and improve provision for walking, wheeling and cycling in Monmouthshire’s built-up areas, in accordance with the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 by developing the route network identified on Welsh Government’s Active Travel Network Map (ATNM) based on community feedback. Usk Bridge has long been identified as a barrier to active travel. Changes to the historic road bridge can’t be made, since it’s a listed structure. MCC has prioritised the development of alternative active travel provision ATNM route MCC-A01A, proposing a walking and cycling bridge downriver of the Usk Bridge.
Merthyr Road bridge has long been identified as a barrier to active travel, and MCC has prioritised the development of this route. The new active travel bridge will offer an alternative to using the narrow footway over the existing Usk Bridge and encourage modal shift as a result. The road bridge is a listed structure that carries a heavy volume of road traffic. There is currently little scope to make it more welcoming or safe for active travel.
Development and construction of this scheme have been funded by Welsh Government through the Active Travel Fund, administered by Transport for Wales. Funding for improvements to active travel routes is awarded through a competitive application process and once allocated is ring-fenced for this project and cannot be spent on other projects, schemes or council services. Installed infrastructure must meet Active Travel guidance as set out here: https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2022-01/active-travel-act-guidance.pdf.
This scheme looks to provide a high-quality walking and cycling connection between Llanfoist and Abergavenny, in line with the Active Travel Fund grant objectives:
Extensive public consultation has been completed for this scheme. This found strong local appetite for safe provision at Merthyr Road bridge/crossing the Usk and led to adaptation of the design in response to comments received.
Consultation has been carried out through the Monmouthshire County Council Integrated Network Map and Active Travel Network Map consultations, followed by specific active travel and Planning consultations on the active travel bridge, Castle Meadows paths and Llanfoist Links elements of the scheme.
A shared use path is a path for use by any mode of active travel, be it walking, wheeling or cycling, without any physical separating features or markings. The proposed shared use paths are designed in accordance with Active Travel Act guidance.
Ramps up to the bridge on the active travel routes will be constructed with a path gradient of 1/20 (i.e. a rise of 1 metre over a distance of 20 metres), in accordance with accessibility requirements in the Active Travel guidance as set out here: https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2022-01/active-travel-act-guidance.pdf .
The gradient of the active travel route paths on the ramps that connect to the active travel bridge landings will be 1 in 20 or 5% (that means rising no more than one metre in height every 20 metres’ distance). This is the ‘Desirable maximum’ gradient specified by Welsh Government’s Active Travel Act Guidance. The sides of the ramp will have a steeper gradient: A 500mm buffer strip either side of the path, and planting on the ramp sides will be used to prevent people walking on the sides of the ramp. The detail of the ramp and gradients can be seen on planning application DM/2018/00408, drawing DR-CB-0104 P1, ‘FOOTPATH RAMP DETAILS’.
Cattle grids won’t be used on this scheme. Access controls are needed to keep the cattle within the Meadows. The cattle grid that was trialled in 2023 has been removed and replaced with a gate.
Castle Meadows and the River Usk are ecologically sensitive sites. Planning permission for the bridge and links was granted on condition of approval of a landscaping plan, Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP – planning number DM/2023/00959) and ongoing studies of specified species. The plan includes work to improve the sward on Castle Meadows, in line with the site Management Plan. Habitat and species are addressed in part 8 chapter 9 of the Environmental Statement accompanying planning application DM/2018/00408.
The landing of the active travel bridge is made up of an earth ramp. The sides of the ramp will be planted with shrubs once construction of the bridge is completed. Species for shrub planting will be selected in consultation with MCC ecologists to ensure the species are appropriate for the local environment.
The MCC Castle Meadows management plan includes an aim to improve the meadow sward, which we intend to apply to the grassed areas of the ramps and to restore existing grassed areas post-construction. To this end, a locally sourced seed mix from an appropriate meadow site will be used. The donor site will depend on what is available when it is time to seed; we will update this website when known.
The level set for the bridge was selected by the desire to minimise the disruption of the natural setting and flood effects on existing buildings. The bridge will be set on a pier and ramps, and bridge soffit level will be located above the 1 in 100 annual probability event with an additional climate change allowance, as laid out in part 10 chapter 9 of the Environmental Statement accompanying planning application DM/2018/00408.
We are aware that the paths on the Meadows are unavailable for periods of the year when flooding has occurred but have progressed provision of a bridge and connections on Castle Meadows for improvement to provision for the rest of the year. It is accepted that the bridge and footpaths will not be accessible during severe flood events.
The proposed bridge pier has been designed to have a small area and be streamlined in order to reduce the impact on in-channel water flow. It has also been designed to stand outside of the ‘normal flow’ river channel on a dry shingle bar which is inundated only during times of flood, reducing the impact of the Proposed Scheme on ‘normal flows’. The ramps and associated embankments have been designed to be streamlined with a small footprint and minimal intrusion into the channel, to minimise the impact on flood flow conveyance and to minimise the loss of floodplain storage on Castle Meadows (i.e. how much water Castle Meadows holds during a flood). The location of the active travel bridge has also been chosen to reduce potential impacts to the floodplain and surrounding areas. The bridge is being located downstream of the existing road bridge, which constricts flow and traps debris flowing down the River Usk.
During construction, river levels may affect the build timetable. A flood management plan has been prepared and the construction compound will be sited away from the river edge on higher land to avoid the area that commonly floods.
Installation of the active travel bridge and ramps will be carried out under environmental permit Flood Risk Activity Permit (FRAP) number DFR/S/2022/0143 granted following completion of the Flood Consequences Assessment section and associated documents. Analysis and mitigations are provided in part 10 chapter 9 of the Environmental Statement accompanying planning application DM/2018/00408.
During the construction of the proposed footbridge, works will be undertaken on the floodplain and within the channel of the River Usk, including the caisson construction and the installation of temporary piling ramps on the riverbanks. Consultation with Natural Resources Wales found that the planned temporary works in the Usk and Castle Meadows (floodplain) would be likely to have ‘direct, temporary, short-term effect’ on the River Usk of ‘negligible significance’ because the volume of flood storage lost as a result of these activities is negligible compared to the volume of storage available in the floodplain.
The proposed bridge pier has been designed to have a small area and be streamlined in order to reduce the impact on in-channel water flow. It has also been designed to stand outside of the ‘normal flow’ river channel on a dry shingle bar which is inundated only during times of flood, reducing the impact of the Proposed Scheme on ‘normal flows’. The ramps and associated embankments have been designed to be streamlined with a small footprint and minimal intrusion into the channel, to minimise the impact on flood flow conveyance and to minimise the loss of floodplain storage on Castle Meadows (i.e. how much water Castle Meadows holds during a flood). The location of the active travel bridge has also been chosen to reduce potential impacts to the floodplain and surrounding areas. The bridge is being located downstream of the existing road bridge, which constricts flow and traps debris flowing down the River Usk.
The Flood Consequences Assessment (FCA) for this scheme considered the impact of the proposed development of a new footbridge and associated footpaths on the flood risk at surrounding properties. Flood modelling carried out for this assessment indicated that the construction of the footbridge would not result in any additional properties being flooded that are not already flooded in the baseline scenario. The baseline scenario (i.e. modelling the situation ‘as is’) found that several residential properties along Merthyr Road, the Bridge Inn and the Kwik Fit are all inundated above finished floor level in 100yr return period events or greater, but that the onset of flooding and the hazard rating at those properties that are affected, will not change as a result of the construction of the footbridge in any of the events that have been modelled.
The FCA report found that, taking into consideration the existing fluvial flood risk to nearby properties, the impacts of the proposed footbridge on flood risk at the affected properties is considered to be low, and that the proposed footpaths will have no impact on flood risk elsewhere. Flood risk to potential users of the footpaths remains the same as for the existing footpaths.
This scheme will include the offer of Property Flood Resilience (PFR) measures for specific residential properties in the scheme area which are recognised to be inundated above finished floor level in 100yr return period events or greater in the baseline scenario.
The construction timeline has been planned to take place over two years with allowance for a third year. Working periods are restricted by when building is permitted and safe to be carried out. This is restricted by certain ecological constraints limiting vibration and in-river working at certain times of year, as well dependent on weather conditions.
The bridge will be of steel beam construction with timber facing, following Non-Material Amendment DM/2025/00507. This permitted a design change from the original planning permission, to use wood-faced steel in place of Glulam (structural laminated timber material). This decision was taken to reflect the whole life cost of the scheme including ongoing maintenance and lifespan of the bridge.
Paths that were part of planning permission for the active travel bridge and ramps will be constructed from a permeable resin-bound surfacing over an asphalt concrete base and hardcore sub-base. The detail of the path construction and surface specification can be seen on planning application DM/2018/00408, drawing DR-CB-0109 P1, ‘KERBS, FOOTPATHS AND PAVED AREAS DETAILS’. This detail received planning approval as DM/2023/00900 Discharge of condition no.5 (landscape works) of planning consent DM/2018/00408.
Further paths on Castle Meadows may be developed subject to funding, based on the planning permission DM/2022/01831. The makeup of these paths will be subject to approval by the Local Planning Authority (as Condition 4 of the planning permission) and the Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems Approval Body (SAB).
Topsoil and ramp infill will be sourced from local quarries that will ensure compliance with the project specification, specification for highways and the projects Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP). Where possible and practicable, site won material (i.e. earth/topsoil from Castle Meadows excavated during construction works) will be utilised if compliant with the associated specifications.
No, temporary hardstanding will be removed after construction. For the construction phase, before the construction of the permanent access ramps, temporary hardstanding will be constructed for piling and other machinery. The work site will be prepared with Heras fencing with acoustic baffles. Topsoil and subsoil will be removed and then a geotextile membrane installed to allow for complete removal of the imported temporary hardstanding and surfacing materials once the scheme is completed.
The design of gate was selected to offer the least restrictive access to people walking, wheeling and cycling, and the gate trialled after the removal of the cattle grid has been well-received as a preferred alternative. Therefore, slow-closing, latch-free gates will be used as stock control where necessary.
No. However, it is to be noted dogs must always be under the owner’s control in public, and MCC would always advise that dogs should be under close control (on a lead or at heel) around children, cyclists, cattle and when entering and leaving the Meadows.
Cattle will continue to seasonally graze Castle Meadows to maintain the sensitive ecology in adherence to the Castle Meadows management plan. Access to Castle Meadows will be controlled by slow closing, latch-free gates, as previously trialled at the Castle Hill entrance.
The use of motorbikes and e-motorbikes, as well as electric scooters, is not permitted on Castle Meadows paths or active travel bridge. Abuse of Castle Meadows paths and active travel provision should be reported to the police by calling 111.
No, lighting was excluded from the scheme plans following consultation. There is no plan to include lighting in this scheme. Early plans explored the question of the provision of lights on the bridge or connecting paths. Following stakeholder and public consultation, lighting was excluded from both the bridge and the Castle Meadows schemes.
Currently, we understand the memorial benches will stay in situ. Though there is no current plan to move any benches, if any have to be temporarily moved, they will be stored and re-installed following construction.
The National Cycle Network (NCN) routes are designated and mapped by the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (WWCT) (formerly known as Sustrans). The current understanding is that WWCT will re-route NCN 46 over the new active travel bridge once the route is open. MCC is liaising with WWCT to ensure that the NCN route is correctly signposted once installed.
This scheme will include works on Merthyr Road to improve the crossings and active travel route, pending stakeholder consultation and design finalisation. This is part of a wider aspirational scheme of route improvements focused on the Llanfoist side of the River Usk and connections to the active travel bridge and Castle Meadows. Elements of this broad scheme will be included in the construction works, with other sections being brought forward as and when funding allows.