A motion to support safe travel for pedestrians and cyclists on Milford Road will be heard by Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn Town Council on 27th March 2023.

The motion, submitted by Councillor Margaret Lewington, calls on the council to acknowledge and support the work of the Milford Road Speedwatch group and ward County Councillor Pete Lewington.

It also asks the Town Council to write to the Portfolio Holder at Powys at Powys County Council expressing its support for a virtual safety path to be implemented on Milford Road as part of the Active Travel Network.

A virtual safety path refers to a path painted on the road.

The motion states that many residents both young and old have told Councillor Lewington that they would like to be able to safely walk or cycle into town for either shopping, work, school or recreational purposes but are afraid to do so due to a lack of footpath along part of Milford Road in addition to the other safety measures mentioned above.

The motion also states that walking and cycling provides us with the opportunity to increase our health and wellbeing by being more active as well as contributing to reducing emissions and combatting the current climate emergency by enabling us to prioritise walking and cycling rather than using the car for short journeys.

The motion concludes by asking for the town council to show its support for the wellbeing of its local residents by supporting this motion.

The full motion is re-produced below:

“The Town Council notes the work of the Milford Road speedwatch group and ward County Councillor Pete Lewington.

The Town Council confirms its support for safe travel on Milford Road especially walking and cycling which has health benefits of all of our residents.

The Town Council requests the Town Clerk to write to the portfolio holder for a greener Powys at Powys County Council expressing its support for a virtual safety path (basically a path painted on the road) to be implemented on Milford Road as part of the Active Travel Network citing the improvements to road, pedestrian and cyclist safety that these active travel routes bring.

The Town Council requests the Town Clerk to write to the Milford Road speedwatch co-ordinator acknowledging the time and effort the local resident volunteers who comprise this group have put into trying to make Milford Road safer for pedestrians and cyclists.”