Aberystwyth Town Council writes to provide its formal response to the Plascrug Bridge Scheme consultation, closing 25 February 2026. While we have completed the online survey, we request that this letter also be accepted as part of the consultation, as the survey format does not allow us to fully express our detailed concerns and reasoning.
Having carefully reviewed the options and listened to the views of local stakeholders, Aberystwyth Town Council strongly believes that Option A is not only the best of the three options presented, but the only option that can reasonably be supported.
Option A
Option A proposes replacing the existing bridge in the same location, upgrading it to meet modern Active Travel standards and to accommodate increased walking, cycling and wheeling. This option meets the stated aims of the project without introducing unnecessary risks or impacts.
Crucially, Option A is the only option supported by key local organisations, including Ysgol Plascrug, Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth and Aberystwyth Rugby Club.
Advantages of Option A:
- Safer bridge design: Only requires 2m overlook protection on the section directly over the railway. The remaining length can remain open, allowing clear sightlines to the Rugby Club and Starling Cloud, reducing isolation and improving safety.
- Minimal land impact: Uses the current bridge footprint, avoiding negative impacts on Plascrug Avenue, Lower Park Avenue Car Park, Ysgol Plascrug and other nearby land.
- Most direct routes: Provides the shortest, most convenient access to the schools, leisure centre, rugby club and surrounding areas, including shortcut stair connections at all entrances. This is particularly important for young children travelling between Camau Bach and local schools for wrap‑around care.
- No loss of parking: Leaves car‑parking provision at Lower Park Avenue Car Park, Aberystwyth Rugby Club, Ysgol Plascrug and Camau Bach entirely unaffected.
- Environmental benefits: No loss of mature trees or damage to green space.
- Improved junction safety: Allows the redesign of Plascrug roundabout, as part of the construction, to remove existing conflict points.
- Logical pathfinding: Retains the use of the existing pelican crossing on Boulevard de Saint Brieuc.
- Minimal visual impact
Access during construction
Some have raised concerns regarding temporary access across the railway during construction. We do not accept that this is a barrier. The Engagement Document itself acknowledges that a temporary replacement bridge may be required. Constructing a temporary crossing is standard practice for projects of this type across the UK, and funding is available.
The Mid Wales Regional Transport Plan allocates £10.4 million for the Plascrug Active Travel Bridge (2026–2031), which is more than sufficient to deliver Option A alongside a temporary access solution.
For these reasons, Aberystwyth Town Council maintains that Option A is the only viable and responsible choice.
Option B
Option B directs a new bridge across the Lower Park Avenue Car Park and into the grounds of Ysgol Plascrug. This design presents substantial issues, especially relating to both public safety and the safeguarding of children.
Disadvantages of Option B:
- Enclosed & unsafe layout: The 2m overlook protection, required along the full length of the bridge, creates an enclosed environment. Combined with the zig‑zag U‑turn design, this results in blind corners and hidden areas that are unsafe for all users, especially cyclists, lone walkers or those travelling after dark.
- Increased antisocial behaviour: The enclosed design is likely to create spaces that attract antisocial behaviour.
- Serious safeguarding concerns:
- The bridge passes directly through Ysgol Plascrug’s grounds.
- High risk of litter or items being thrown into play areas.
- Increased exposure of children to noise and potential antisocial behaviour.
- Vulnerability of school grounds to photography from the bridge.
- Possibility of individuals climbing into school grounds from the bridge.
- Risk of children climbing out of school grounds onto the bridge.
- Overshadowing reduces visibility for playground supervision.
- The bridge physically divides the school’s main playgrounds from their playing field, complicating supervision and movement.
- Poor Active Travel connections: Directs active travel routes into a car park, requiring new pedestrian crossing of Boulevard de Saint Brieuc and major reconfiguration of the Lower Park Avenue Car Park.
- Longer travel distances: The layout results in significantly longer walking & wheeling distances to key amenities, affecting children, older travellers and those with mobility needs.
- Loss of car parking: Substantial loss of parking spaces at both Lower Park Avenue Car Park and Ysgol Plascrug.
- Environmental damage: Destruction of the Ysgol Plascrug’s award winning woodland and nature area.
- Loss of several mature trees.
- Loss of established vegetation on Plascrug Avenue.
For these reasons, Aberystwyth Town Council cannot support Option B in any form.
Option C
Option C mirrors Option B in its fundamental issues. It crosses the car park, passes over the school grounds, and descends into Plascrug Avenue adjacent to the children’s playground managed by Aberystwyth Town Council. It therefore carries the same risks and disadvantages as Option B.
Disadvantages of Option C:
- Enclosed & unsafe layout: Also requires full-length 2m overlook protection. Combined with right-angle turns, this significantly limits visibility and creates an unsafe thoroughfare cyclists, lone walkers or those travelling after dark.
- Increased antisocial behaviour: The enclosed design is likely to create spaces that attract antisocial behaviour.
- Serious safeguarding concerns:
- The bridge passes directly through Ysgol Plascrug’s grounds.
- High risk of litter or items being thrown into play areas.
- Increased exposure of children to noise and potential antisocial behaviour.
- Vulnerability of playground & school grounds to photography from the bridge.
- Possibility of individuals climbing into the playground or school grounds from the bridge.
- Risk of children climbing out of the playground or school grounds onto the bridge.
- Overshadowing reduces visibility for playground supervision.
- Poor Active Travel connections: As with Option B, the bridge steers users into a car park and necessitates a new crossing of Boulevard de Saint Brieuc and redesign of Lower Park Avenue Car Park.
- Longer travel distances: The layout results in significantly longer walking & wheeling distances to key amenities, affecting children, older travellers and those with mobility needs.
- Loss of car parking: Substantial loss of parking spaces at Lower Park Avenue Car Park.
- Environmental damage:
- Destruction of the Ysgol Plascrug’s award winning woodland and nature area.
- Loss of several mature trees.
- Loss of established vegetation on Plascrug Avenue.
For these reasons, Aberystwyth Town Council cannot support Option C in any form.
Conclusion
Following thorough consideration, Aberystwyth Town Council supports Option A as the only acceptable and achievable option for the future of the Plascrug Footbridge.
Options B and C introduce unacceptable safety, safeguarding, environmental and connectivity problems, and neither option is compatible with the needs of local schools, families, Active Travel users, or the wider community.
We trust that the Council will take these concerns fully into account and progress with the full designing of Option A.
Yours sincerely,
Will Rowlands
Town Clerk & RFO
For and on behalf of Aberystwyth Town Council