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The £5million project to build the ‘People’s Bridge’ - Pont y Werin - across the River Ely between Cardiff Bay and Penarth marked another important milestone today with work due to start this summer. 

Sustainable transport charity Sustrans and its Connect2 partners at Cardiff Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council have today signed the paperwork that will guide the development for the coming years. The picture shows Members of the Woodcraft Folk, who won the competition to name the bridge, celebrating the signing of the Agreement on 9th April 2009.

This agreement confirms partners’ continued commitment to the scheme and pledges £1.15m from Sustrans’ Connect2 award from the Big Lottery Fund to complete the scheme which will build the bridge and its supporting network of paths into the community.

There has been huge anticipation from the public for this walking and cycling bridge since its inception three years ago – it will complete a six-and-a-half mile circular walkway around the bay, provide a traffic-free route for pedestrians and cyclists to travel between some of the most scenic parts of the capital, and enable people to travel under their own steam for everyday journeys to work, to school and the shops. 

Building work is set to begin in the Ely River this summer, with the bridge being completed in summer 2010. Once finished, this bridge will link into Cardiff’s existing network of walking and cycling paths. On the Penarth side, the Vale of Glamorgan Council will be working in consultation with interested parties to identify the best routes to link communities, the hospital and the train station to the bridge. 

Lee Waters National Director for Sustrans Cymru said: “It’s fantastic to sign the agreement which officially brings this scheme into the Big Lottery Funded Connect2 project. We know that in summer, around 5,000 people already use the rest of the circular route in the bay that this bridge will complete. These figures show just how popular the existing route is and we want to build on that to make walking and cycling the obvious choice for so many of our everyday journeys. We hope this bridge will be a step towards more people being more active, more often by walking and cycling instead of getting in the car.”

Cllr Delme Bowen of Cardiff Council and chair of the steering group said: “We have had great feedback from cyclists and pedestrians about Pont y Werin being built and I know they are all as excited as I am about this bridge becoming a reality. This will be a fantastic project and we are delighted it is moving ever closer. Cardiff is committed to encouraging people to use as sustainable methods of transport as they can and Pont y Werin will give different options to people living in the area about how they travel for work or leisure.”

Cllr Jeff James, Vale of Glamorgan Cabinet Member for Planning & Transportation and steering group member said: “We have done it! This exciting scheme has been made possible through the enormous and popular support for Sustrans’ Connect2 – as voted for by the public in the UK’s largest lottery competition in December 2007 and the essential close co-operation between Cardiff and the Vale Council. “This key connection for the people of the Vale and Cardiff will provide enjoyment and will link with cycle routes on both sides of the bridge providing easy and healthy travel options and the enjoyment of all that our two council areas can provide.”

Penarth Woodcraft Folk, an educational group for young people, won the competition to name the new bridge last year. The winning name “Pont y Werin”, which means “The People’s Bridge” reflects not only the Woodcraft name (Gwerin y Coed in Welsh), but its principles of equality and social justice.  Penarth Woodcraft leader Marc Buehner said “We know young people enjoy playing and being outdoors, that’s one of the reasons they come to the Woodcraft Folk. And once this bridge is open, it will allow more children to get outside more often with their friends and family as they get where they need to go.”

Published on 09th Apr 2009