I REFER to an article in the Barry & District News, Thursday, July 7, entitled ‘scheme draws thanks’.

The council leader and deputy leader are pictured triumphing the latest alleged improvements to the Harbour Road causeway. In the article they claim the council fully funded scheme supports its engagement with sustainable transport options and coastal protection.

Sustainable transport options?

We now have a pedestrian footway almost as wide as the recently narrowed roadway. A cycle track measuring less than approximately 360 metres which starts half-way along the causeway and ends at the junction with Ship Hill and the Parade.

I and many other people have noticed that where the cycle way begins the road suddenly narrows without any adequate warning signs and then incorporates two bollards adjacent to the kerbside which is unquestionably a danger to motorists travelling at night in poor weather conditions in the direction of The Ship Junction.

It is now an accident waiting to happen.

Travelling toward Barry Island from the Ship Hotel’s junction on a few occasions since the marvellous improvements to our causeway were completed, I and others have found longer delays than when the improvements were under construction.

The reason for our delays were cyclists travelling in the same direction as us and riding two abreast were quite content to ignore the mini cycleway which cost us, the taxpayer, probably countless thousands of pounds of the councils fully funded scheme.

When are these people going to learn that cyclists do not want cycle ways and very rarely use them especially when they are only 360-odd metres in length.

What the council’s highways department have done here is narrowed a perfectly serviceable roadway which is now going to be a danger to cyclists and motorists, especially as the narrowing of the road in the direction of The Ship Hotel will inevitably claim casualties in the course of time.

Barrie Vaughan Evans

Friars Road

Barry Island