Gower Access Path

20/11/2025

We’re still waiting to hear about the decision of the Welsh Government’s inspector who’s weighing up the case for our path across the Common.

Telling the Council how much this path is needed for all users certainly won’t do any harm.

You know what to do.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17LDC7cBQf/

14/09/2025

The application is now with PEDW, the planning arm of Welsh Government. Comments are able to be submitted until Wednesday the 17th of September. Once this date has passed they will appoint an inspector who’ll consider the application. If the application is approved this time the Council will seek Welsh Government funding to provide the path. It’s likely that this funding will be given next financial year if the scheme’s approved.

28/08/2025

PEDW have forwarded the Council's representations in response to the queries raised by responders to the latest public consultation that ended in late July. We've attached it for information and to demonstrate the Council's continued support for the scheme

CAS-04405-W7F8N3Section 38 Common Land Application for works on Clyne CommonCouncil’s responses to the representations and objections relating to the Section 38 application 2025.

In response to comments received relating to the Section 38 application Clyne Common, please see below.

Ecology / BiodiversityThe impact on the ecology of the common will be kept to a minimum, and mitigation will take place prior to any works commencing. We will employ the services of an approved Ecologist, who will dictate measures that will be followed to ensure safe working methods.Swansea Council have worked closely with the local landowners, Ward Members, Local interest Groups, Gower Commoners Association, County Ecologists, Countryside and Conservation Officers, Public Rights of Way Officers, Highway Maintenance, British Horse Society and independent ecology consultants to inform the developing design to ensure the best and most appropriate solution was progressed and will be constructed sympathetically to the natural feel of the Common.

The scheme proposes to align the route behind existing tree outcrops, resulting in less vegetation clearance required, further minimising impact on the biodiversity and ecology of the common.SurfacingThe proposed Shared Use Path will be constructed sympathetically to the natural feel of the common and with as little impact to the natural environment as possible.

The material proposed for the surface of the shared-use path will reuse rubber recycled from used vehicle tyres previously earmarked for disposal in landfill, which is suitable for all users, including horse riders, and will allow the free draining of water. The company we are proposing to use for the surfacing is called Flexipave.

Their rubber surfacing and the polyurethane binder are totally inert once exposed to air and thoroughly mixed together. Also, no “leaching” of these materials takes place either, making Flexipave completely safe to work with.The material will reuse rubber recycled from approximately 24,000 used vehicle tyres previously earmarked for disposal in landfill, which, if burned, would have created 528,000kgs of CO2.

Route Alignment/Design amendments were discussed with Gower Commoners to address comments regarding the escape strip adjacent to the highway and its importance to remain. As a result, the proposals were amended whereby the Shared Use Path would traverse behind the existing stock proof fence, with the inclusion cycle grids and by-pass gates installed at either end to ensure the containment of livestock to the common.

The route is also proposed to be set behind tree outcrops as a way of screening from the highway.Cycle GridsThe inclusion of cycle grids have been introduced on the scheme due to the amended route alignment afore mentioned. Cycle grids are designed as a mechanism to prevent sheep and cattle escaping the common but allow the passage of cycles. A by-pass gate forms part of the installation for pedestrians. The gate is proposed to be self-closing to ensure the common is appropriately secured.Designated Use.

The majority of the route will permit the use of cycles and equestrians as it is dissected by a number of Bridleways.

Interaction with Livestock
The amended route afore mentioned will result in the Shared Use Path located behind the existing stock proof fence along the section between Mayals Road and Campion Gardens. As a result, there is potential that livestock may venture onto the path from time to time. The open aspect feel of the path will be in keeping with the area and minimise works on the common if it were to be contained. As is the case in many rural locations on Gower, livestock are free to roam.

Vehicles on Gower show consideration to these animals by reducing speeds and acting in a suitable manner. We envisage the same consideration would be displayed on the Shared Use Path by its users. Swansea promotes a ‘Share with Care’ culture, whereby pedestrians, dog walkers, mobility users and cyclists all share the same environments and act accordingly.

Drainage

No formal drainage is proposed as part of the scheme. The surfacing of the Shared Use Path is free draining, therefore rainfall will dissipate into the existing ground as it does currently. No drainage ditches are proposed, with all existing ditches remaining in-situ. If maintenance is required to existing ditches, this can be carried out as part of the works.

Impact on Grazing

Clyne Common, registered CL15, has a total area of 1858 Acres. The proposed Shared Use Path including reprofiling works amounting to 3.98 Acres. As a result, the impact upon loss of grazing on the common as a whole will be 0.2%.Order of limitationsIt has been claimed that the order of limitations provided with the application and made under Section 193 of the Law of Property Act 1925 provides that horse riding is an offence unless carried out on the bridlepaths shown coloured brown on the plan attached to the Order.

However, in fact the Schedule to the order of limitations states that:“without lawful authority no person shall in or upon the land:(i)Train, break in, exercise or ride horses, except on the bridlepaths shown coloured brown on the plan annexed hereto.”Any use by horse riders on the Shared Use Path would be “with lawful authority” of the owners of the land and would not fall foul of these limitations.

Status A question was asked in relation to the formal highway status of the Share Use Path being created and for assurances relating to use by horse riders. While it would have been the preference of the Council to adopt the Shared Use Path as a highway maintainable at the public expense and thus record the path on the Council’s record of adopted highways in the area, the Council understands that this would be difficult to achieve in practice.

Whilst the Council owns part of the land on which the Shared Use Path is to be constructed other sections would require deeds of dedication from the landowners in order to achieve adopted highway status made in accordance with Section 38 of the Highways Act 1980. In addition it is the Council’s understanding that the adoption as public highway would result in the loss of common land status as the land would no longer fall within Section 22 of the Commons Registration Act 1965. Therefore this is not likely to be a feasible option. Nevertheless the Council will maintain the path to a suitable standard for the relevant categories of user and it will be a condition of the licence with the Somerset Trust which covers the majority of land on which the path is proposed to be created that it keeps the path in good repair and condition.

It is now proposed that the path shall remain a permissive route.The Shared Use Path will permit equestrian use between Murton Green Road and Mayals Road as it crosses a number of Bridleways on the Common. Appropriate signage informing permitted usage will be installed.

11/07/2025

An extract from a powerful letter of support for the Council’s section 38 application to carry out the required work on the Common to build the path, from David Judd a well known local supporter of safe provision for cyclists and other active travellers.

David Judd - response to the Section 38 Application B4436 Clyne Common

I totally support this application The scheme will greatly improve safety of vulnerable road users and encourage new trips both walking and cycling.. This facility will be of great benefit to local communities for local access, wider connection and recreational trips as explained later. It will improve access to the several public footpaths and Bridleways that traverse the B4436 on Clyne Common. The scheme has potential for reducing the chaotic congestion at Bishopston Comprehensive school times by providing for more walking and cycling trips. This is of course in addition to the wider benefits that more walking and cycling bring to health, the environment and the economy of the area. A longstanding everyday cyclist, I have lived on Northway for over 50 years and experienced the dangers from traffic speeding and close passing on almost every trip. Because of the road alignment and high volume of traffic vehicles have little opportunity to safely pass cyclists and frequently take risks. I have considered my experience of cycling this section of the B4436 which I categorise in the following paragraphs.

Background

In my experience in over 60 years as a highway engineer, including 15 developing shared use tracks mainly for walkers and cyclists (also horses on some), I have witnessed the benefits that shared use paths have achieved, with improved safety and access for vulnerable users that has meant that the paths have, as well as benefiting those trips, also provided for more road capacity for motor vehicles as a consequence.

24/06/2025

An opportunity to find out more about the proposed pump track for Bishopston

20/06/2025

We have recently received consultation documents from the Council's legal department as part of the next phase of the project, that is gaining section 38 approval to carry out restricted works on the common.

This is a necessary stage of the process and a sign that we're moving in the right direction.

The notice will be published in today's South Wales Evening Post and we're sharing here for information and to invite comments, favourable hopefully.

If and when approval is given a funding request will be submitted to Welsh Government in order to complete the scheme.

It's been a long and difficult process however we remain optimistic that we'll soon be able to travel safely across the common.

Thanks once again for all your support.

THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SWANSEAFAIRWOOD AND CLYNE COMMON (CL15)COMMONS ACT 2006 SECTION 38The Council of the City and County of Swansea has applied to the Welsh Ministers for consent under section 38 of the Commons Act 2006 to carry out restricted works on Fairwood and Clyne Common (CL15).The proposed works are the development of a shared use path for use by pedestrians, equestrian users and cyclists from Mayals Road, Mayals to Northway, Bishopston passing across the common along the southern side of the B4436 highway. The proposed works are 3 metres wide with 1.5 metre verges either side (maximum 6 metres in total width).The total area of Common Land required will be 16,105 square metres. Although this would result in a reduction of the overall area of the Common Land available for other purposes, the resulting path will provide a much needed and desired amenity for the public. It will provide a link for users along the busy B4436 from Bishopston and Murton to the newly installed active travel facility at Mayals Road which has links with the National Cycle Network Route No. 4 along Mumbles Road and beyond. During the works temporary fencing will be erected as a safety measure.A copy of the application form and map showing the proposed works can be inspected at the offices of The Council of the City and County of Swansea, Civic Centre, Oystermouth Road, Swansea SA1 3SN between the hours of 09:00 am and 4:30 pm weekdays (not public holidays) until the 25th July 2025. A copy of the application may be obtained by writing to the Chief Legal Officer at the above address and quoting reference DGC-283411/KAO.Any objections or representations should be sent in writing ON or BEFORE that date to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales at Crown Buildings, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ, or [email protected] Letters sent to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales cannot be treated as confidential. They will be copied to the applicant and possibly to other interested parties.Dated the 20th June 2025L A MooreChief Legal OfficerLegal and Democratic Services

07/04/2025

It’s been a while since we’ve updated our page, we were waiting for what we hoped would be positive news in relation to the planning application and WG funding.

Unfortunately we haven’t heard anything positive on either front which is very disappointing, in fact the planning application submitted in July last year is still being considered and while the council seem to have used some of the funding allocated to the now mothballed Walter Road scheme to improve the path from Blackpill to the Railway Inn nothing has been forthcoming for our project.

We are understandably extremely disappointed and fear as we pass into a new financial year and approach another nesting, that this will be another year when no real progress is seen on this much needed path for walkers, those on wheels and horseback.

Our local councillor Lyndon Jones continues to engage at the highest levels in the council and with Welsh Government and any news from these conversations will be shared once any concrete news is available.

Thanks for you continued support.

13/01/2025

The Council have submitted the planning application (Reference 2024/1188/FUL) to allow the path to be built. We would be grateful if you could comment favourably on the application on the Council's planning portal now that the application is at the consultation phase.

You can do this by browsing the Council's website at www.swansea.gov.uk, search for planning applications using the reference above. A few lines about how valuable and well used the path would be would be most welcome, thanks.

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24/12/2024

Following a recent online meeting with the Council's officers and our local councillor Lyndon Jones, on the 12th of December the Council uploaded a letter from BSG Ecology, who are the company the Council have engaged to complete the required ecological reports in relation to the scheme, in response to aspects of mitigation

We're not experts in the field however the latest documentation does not seem to contain any surprises or issues that would seem to adversely affect the building of the path and states that the path would have be beneficial effect overall in environmental terms.

We understand that the planning application 2024/1188/FUL has now been submitted and will proceed to the consultation phase next Monday the 30th of December. Actions at this stage can include actions such as the postings of public notices, advertising in local media and the sending of letters to neighbours of the scheme. Following this phase the application will proceed to recommendation and possible consideration by the relevant planning committee.

Hand in hand with this process the Council will be applying for WG Active Travel funding to enable the path to finally be built during the upcoming financial year 2025/26.

There remain a few hurdles to jump, however we remain optimistic that this much needed path for walkers, wheelers and cyclists will be a reality soon.

Thanks for your continued support and patience.