“Finish the job” on access reform, Welsh government told

·       Charity hosts event in Roald Dahl Plaza with giant map of Wales to encourage government to finish work on access reform begun before the pandemic

·       New report points out economic, health and wellbeing benefits for Wales if work on access reform is completed

·       Report available for download at: English Welsh

Cycling UK yesterday (Wednesday, 07 June) has called on the Welsh government to reinvigorate its stated commitment to improve access to the countryside, as it publishes its report Trails for Wales: we can’t afford to wait.

Taking to Roald Dahl Plaza near the Senedd, Cardiff, the cycling charity has organised a display using a 10m squared map of Wales and will use it to show the public and politicians how difficult it is for people to explore the countryside when cycling.

Currently, cycling is permitted on only 21% of the Welsh rights of way system, which includes footpaths, bridleways and byways. In 2015, recognising that this archaic access system restricted people’s enjoyment of the countryside and opportunities to grow the rural economy, the Welsh government started to consult with landowners and outdoor access groups about access reform. 

This resulted in the government promising in 2019 to change its rights of way legislation to allow more access for cycling and horse riding, and to improve access for activities including wild swimming and rock climbing.

Progress was stalled by the pandemic, but Cycling UK is now urging the government to pick up where it left off, and move forward with the long promised access reform.

Cycling UK has proposed trials on land owned by the Welsh Government allowing the impact of improved rights of responsible access to the countryside to be assessed. This could cover a range of activities including canoeing, wild swimming, rock climbing, horse riding and cycling. 

The charity’s report says improving access to the countryside will benefit rural businesses especially, and boost the annual £481 million outdoor activity tourism contributes to the Welsh economy each year. 

Improving access would also create more opportunities for people to be more active, bringing health and well-being benefits for a population that has high levels of inactivity and obesity (62% of adults are classified as overweight or obese). 

Currently one third of Welsh adults are active for less than half an hour each week, and more than half (54%) of young people aged 3 – 17 are active for less than an hour. 

Gwenda Owen, Cycling UK’s lead campaigner and spokesperson in Wales said:

“The growing recognition that our access system wasn’t fit for purpose led the Welsh Government in 2015 to look into creating a system which would work for Wales, our rural communities and visitors – but progress stalled when Covid hit. 

“If there was one benefit to the pandemic it was how it taught us to appreciate the places close to home, but for many outdoor enthusiasts it also highlighted how limited we actually are in where we can go and what we can do. 

“Cycling UK’s Trails for Wales report shows why we need to increase people’s access to the countryside. The government now needs to finish the job it began eight years ago and  realise the benefits for people and rural business that access to green space brings.”

Cycling UK’s report highlights a mountain bike guiding company near Betws-y-Coed. Its owner, Kath Goodey, said: 

“Some trips prove difficult to deliver in Wales due to the lack of suitable terrain which we can legally access, because there are few logical loops on challenging enough bridleways. So, I have a fully booked trip of 14 riders and we are using the mountain bike paradise of the Tweed Valley in the Scottish Borders instead of my home valley. 

“I find it heartbreaking that I have to run trips such as this in Scotland when the accommodation, cafés, restaurants and bike shops of my own local area could benefit.”

The report also points out the benefits to areas that can become saturated with traffic if alternative routes for cycling can be opened up. The management report for Snowdonia National Park, states: “The current over reliance on cars to access key honeypot sites and the chronic parking problem at busy times of year is failing the National Park’s core purposes.”

Trails for Wales: we can’t afford to wait, is available for download: English Welsh