Abergavenny Strategic Scheme

We are developing active travel routes across Abergavenny to better connect residents to local destinations and public transport services. We aim to improve equity of access to education, employment, local shops and services, to support sustainable, resilient and connected communities across Abergavenny and Llanfoist.

We are focusing on active travel links between Llanfoist and Abergavenny, with our route designed around a new active travel bridge crossing the River Usk between Merthyr Road and Castle Meadows, and associated links for safer, more attractive and direct sustainable routes into Llanfoist and Abergavenny.

Scheme elements:

• A new accessible bridge for walking, wheeling and cycling across the River Usk just downriver of the existing Abergavenny Road bridge
• Upgrade of paths across Castle Meadows to make a car-free active travel route into Abergavenny town centre and onwards to Abergavenny railway station. 
• Improved walking and cycling provision and highway crossing facilities within Llanfoist, including Merthyr Road and The Cutting.

Active travel Bridge 

The scheme seeks to deliver a new pedestrian/cycle bridge across the River Usk, allowing people to cross the Usk away from road vehicles.

Abergavenny Road bridge has long been identified as a severance point for active travel, and MCC has prioritised the development of this route. The new bridge will become the main river crossing for active travel between Llanfoist and Abergavenny. This will offer a safe and attractive alternative to using the narrow footway over the existing Abergavenny Road 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. The aim is to bridge this missing link and ensure effective connections from the bridges (new and existing) into the town centre, allowing healthy travel between homes and key destinations such as schools, Nevill Hall and the town centre.

Castle Meadows 

MCC has obtained planning approval to upgrade the paths across Castle Meadows to active travel standards, improving routes between Abergavenny Road Bridge, Abergavenny town centre/Byfield car park and, in a later development phase, east Abergavenny and Abergavenny Railway station.

Llanfoist Links 

The Llanfoist links scheme seeks to provide welcoming active travel links between Llanfoist and the new active travel bridge across the River Usk. To achieve this, the plan is to improve pavements and crossing facilities within Llanfoist, connecting Llanfoist to Abergavenny with accessible routes.

What is the change we expect to see?

• Increase in active travel journeys in Abergavenny
• Improved connectivity and accessibility for active travel trips in and between Llanfoist and Abergavenny
• Improve actual and perceived levels of personal safety and security when walking and cycling
• Create and improve new off-road dedicated walking /cycling routes, connecting with existing active travel opportunities.
• Protect and manage valued ecosystems as part of the delivery of schemes and offering biodiversity net gain.
• Promote sustainable travel as attractive and safe in Abergavenny and Llanfoist.

Public consultation

Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) and its local partners are seeking your views on the proposed Active Travel links between the proposed Llanfoist Foot and Cycle Bridge across the River Usk and Llanfoist to the south. Have your say …

Abergavenny Active Travel Locality Map

This post is also available in: Welsh