Cyclists,Thinking of voting John Davies Ceredigion Libdems? Read this first...



I'm a keen cyclist and live in Llanilar near Aberystwyth. I wouldn't
really bother with this but I'm infuriated at the local Libdems
Assembly candidate for the county of Ceredigion's leaflet which came
through my door today.
That candidate happens to a certain John Davies,a wealthy local
landowner, of Rhydyfelin.Under the headline A Fair Green Future , Mr
Davies states "We have plans for real action to tackle climate
change,dramatically cutting Wales's carbon emissions.
Very nice....and a pack of bandwaggon jumping lies!
If you have attempted to use the Sustrans national cycle
network ,which runs through beautiful countryside all the way from
Trawscoed towards Aberystwyth you will find that it stops a couple of
miles outside Aber,forcing the rider to tackle a highly dangerous
section of the coast road to finish the ride into town (or to access
the route out of town).
The reason that this has been the case for the last two years is that
the Liberal Democrat candidate has mounted a succession of legal
challenges to stop the route utilising the old railway line and
passing some fields owned by himself. As local cyclists we have become
increasingly frustrated at the delay and cost this has caused.
Why has he done this and spent such large sums of money? Well some
cynical souls have suggested that the fact that these fields now fall
into the village planning envelope , in a village where houses are
selling for up to 40000 each ,could have something to do with it.I
couldn't possibly comment. Undoubtedly if the cycle route were to pass
the site,profits could suffer.
Below is an article from the local Cambrian news written a couple of
years ago.It can also be read on the Cambrian news archives.

Anyway,If you live in the county of Ceredigion,PLEASE vote for ANYONE
but don't vote for the hypocritical and dishonest John Davies and the
Liberal Democrats,he's depriving (still) local familes and kids of a
safe cycle route into Aberystwyth !



Cambrian News
Fears of cycling criminals
PART OF a railway axed 40 years ago is being reopened - as a cycle-
path. The two-mile track between Rhydyfelin and Aberystwyth will
increase road-safety and provide a scenic short-cut for villagers,
county councillors were told. But some villagers fear the new route
could attract burglars on push-bikes and unruly dogs bent on worrying
sheep. The path will run from Rhydyfelin to Trefechan, following the
rail trackbed which until the 1960s was part of the train route to
Carmarthen. Some residents are worried the path will be too close to
their homes, could be used by noisy motorcyclists and may lead to
vandalism or theft. John Davies, of Dwylan, Rhydyfelin, told
Ceredigion planning committee: "The land forms part of an agricultural
field and offers shelter to livestock from the prevailing westerly
winds. "It is secluded and tranquil with no public access and is a
haven for wild animals." Mr Davies, who works for the National
Farmers' Union, claimed old people were frightened the cycle-path
would provide an ideal escape route for would-be criminals. He added:
"The embankment directly overlooks our house, which will reduce our
privacy and house value. It would be cheaper to upgrade the existing
public access between Aberystwyth and Rhydyfelin - Nanny Goat's Walk."
But the scheme has been welcomed by Llanfarian and Aberystwyth
councils. And a letter to the committee from Catherine McKenzie, of
Glynteg, Rhydyfelin, and 11 other cyclists, says the path is needed to
make cycling safer. It would also be seen as a step by the county
council towards complying with the Countryside and Rights of Way Bill
published in March. She adds: "The Government has said it wants to see
more provision for cyclists and provides support for initiatives such
as the national cycle network." Another cyclist, John Hepworth, of
Islwyf, Rhydyfelin, said the number of cyclists using the A487 trunk
road between the village and Aberystwyth has increased noticeably in
recent years and, where this road is narrow, people on bikes are a
danger to themselves and to other road-users, with some using the
pavement. "People who would prefer to cycle do not do so now because
of the danger. In this family, the cycle-path would greatly reduce the
need to use a car for short local journeys." Aberystwyth butcher Rob
Rattray is objecting to the plan because the rail embankment is part
of a field used for several years by his animals. He adds: "It is an
integral part of my farming system and is included in calculations on
which sheep annual premium and suckler cow premium payments are based.
"There will be an increased likelihood of sheep and cattle-worrying as
it would be impossible to police all dogs finding their way onto the
cycleway." Deferring the bid by the county council, the planning
committee last week gave officials power to approve the application if
no referable objections were received. The path will begin in
Rhydyfelin where the old railway embankment meets the minor road and
end in Dinas Terrace, Trefechan. Aberystwyth Town Council has said it
hopes no trees will be destroyed during construction of the path,
saying there should be only lopping or trimming. The cycleway will be
within the Ceredigion Coastline Special Landscape Area and Aberystwyth
Landscape Protection Area.
 

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