We believe passionately that the planning authorities should approve this route because…

• Given the pressing context of global warming any promotion of cycling to work or school has to be seen positively. There is no doubt that residents of Brockweir and Tintern will make journeys otherwise done by car to Chepstow and between villages.
• Safe routes to school. Children from Brockweir and Tintern will be able to cycle in safety to Wye Dean comprehensive.
• Sustainable tourism – local people from Chepstow and beyond will cycle and walk to Tintern and Brockweir without their cars, alleviating parking problems and reducing the carbon footprint of tourism
• Health – with serious concerns about the lack of exercise for children and obesity for the whole population this off road route will offer safe access to health giving exercise. This is simply not available at present.
• Connecting communities – the route will give safe and direct links between the villages of Brockweir, Tintern, and Tidenham.

The proposed route is in line with local and national plans…

Wales Assembly Government Walking and Cycling Strategy for Wales
2.1.2 “over 70% of the Welsh population do not take enough exercise to benefit their health”
2.1.3 “Regular cyclists have the fitness of people 10 years younger”
2.7.2 “The aim is to shift the use of the car by encouraging walking and cycling… This is especially important in National Parks and AONBs”

Monmouthshire Unitary Development Plan
Chapter 9 Movement
2. “To improve accessibility throughout the County to enable all sections of the community to circulate more easily and safely to a range of services and facilities with a precedence of pedestrians and cyclists where appropriate”
Policy MV4
“Proposals to improve or develop the byway, public footpath, bridleway, RUPP and cycleway networks will be permitted where they give rise to no unacceptable landscape or other harm.
“The following additions to the recreational networks are also proposed: (inc)
(e) Chepstow to Hereford, via Tintern and Monmouth, ‘Wye Valley’ local routes (both shared pedestrian/cycle and on-road section):”

Wye Valley AONB Joint Advisory Committee“We would welcome any initiatives by local people to develop local cycling routes along existing ex-railway lines where this does not involve CPOs…” March 2002

Forest of Dean District Local Plan
7.3.9 “There may be further opportunities to provide cycle and pedestrian links between communities, including using old railway lines and Forest tracks, provided the use of any route has no unacceptable environmental impact on surrounding areas. These together with parking for cycles will be permitted and supported by the Council within the terms of the above policy.”