Hewelsfield and Brockweir Parish Council – Multi-use Path Survey

This survey is being sent to all parishioners on the current electoral roll. Its aim is to help ascertain the views of parishioners with regard to a potential planning application by Sustrans for a new multi-use path, within the AONB, which will form part of National Cycle Route 42.

Some of you may not be aware of Sustrans, a charity with a national remit of improving access to cycling and other sustainable methods of transport. The Sustrans:Connect 2 scheme obtained a £50 million grant from the lottery in December 2007 after winning a national vote as the number 1 supported proposal within the UK. Their outline plans for a multi-use path within our Parish can be viewed on website www.wyevalleycycling.org.uk. The planned route would start in Chepstow and follow the old Chepstow to Monmouth railway line along the Wye Valley, through 2 tunnels, one of which is curved and over 1km long, over a newly constructed bridge at Lynweir, past Tintern Old Station and then up on to Brockweir Bridge. The National Cycle Route then continues on the highway up Mill Hill and Coldharbour to St. Briavels and thence to the Forest of Dean.

The proposal is a revision of plans for the Tidenham to Brockweir Bridge Railway Path submitted in 2005 and again in 2008, which for various reasons, were not approved by the Forest of Dean District Council. At that time the Parish Council, also objected to the plans citing several reasons, including the impact to Brockweir village, especially car parking, and concerns over potential hazards created by access/exit on Brockweir Bridge. The proposed new plans show no changes at the Brockweir end of the path.

In the event that Sustrans do submit a new planning application there will be very little time to determine the views of Parishioners about the proposals before the application is processed, and so we are taking this early opportunity to conduct a survey. Please note, that the Forest of Dean District Council is the local planning authority and the Parish Council is a statutory consultee.

These survey forms are numbered and are being sent to each individual elector on the 2008 electoral roll. The numbering scheme will help the council in interpreting the result by area, i.e. Underhill, as well as extended areas, i.e. Brockweir. Please complete and leave your copy at the shop, either church vestibule or send by post to the Parish Clerk at Underhill House, Underhill, Brockweir, Chepstow, NP16 7PE. If you would rather use e-mail then send it with the form number to me at luke-wilson@fsmail.net. If you mislay your form or are only on the 2009 electoral roll then please request a new copy from the clerk.

Please do take the time to look at the proposals before completing the survey (see www.wyevalleycycling.org.uk).

Unfortunately young people under 18 within the Parish are not on the electoral roll and so we ask that anyone under 18 who would like to fill in a survey form, obtain a special copy from the shop or from Val Mackey on 01-594-530-648. The form asks for each under 18 year old to add their name, address and age.

SURVEY QUESTIONS

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR COMPLETED SURVEY BY -- DECEMBER 8th 2009

Q1. Would you please rank in order 1 to 7, 1 being the most important, the following features that the multi-use path would offer you. If you feel that a ranking is irrelevant then please leave blank.

a.Cycling, walking, access for people of all abilities
b.Health and exercise
c.Ability to commute to work, school
or local facilities in Tintern or Chepstow
d.Promote sustainable travel
e.Promote tourism, local businesses and employment
f.Provide a useful link to the National Cycle Network
g.Other – please provide further details below.

Q2. Would you please rank in order 1 to 7, 1 being the most important, the following issues that cause you concern. If you feel that a ranking is irrelevant then please leave blank.

h.Excessive car parking within Brockweir village
i.Road safety issues due to the close proximity of the access/exit at
Brockweir bridge with the A466
j.Potential landscape and environmental impacts on the route, i.e. Brockweir bridge ramp, bats within the tunnels etc
k.The effects of changes to the layout of amenities at Tintern Station
l.Possible increased car usage within the AONB
m.Problems concerning personal safety in the tunnels, including the 1000m Tidenham tunnel
n.Other – please provide further details below.

Q3. Are you in favour of the Sustrans proposals for a multi-use path between Chepstow and Brockweir, which forms part of National Cycle Route 42.

Yes - No - Unsure