Priory Church in Wales Primary School to benefit from a safer route to school

19 December 2023

Work to improve the footpath and accessibility to Priory Church in Wales Primary School is due to take place early in the New Year as part of a Welsh Government funded Safe Routes in Communities Active Travel project.

Identified on the Active Travel Network Maps (ATNM) by the community and school, the existing footpaths were described as poor or unsuitable for making journeys by foot, particularly for those travelling to and from the school. The project has been designed to address these issues and improve access to the school and will be the first step in developing a wider local active travel network throughout Brecon.

The scheme will improve active travel provision for pedestrians by upgrading the existing paths on Pendre Road and Pendre Close.

The project will upgrade and widen the existing footpath on Pendre Close towards the school and will make pedestrian safety improvements to the Pendre Road/Pendre Close junction. The scheme will also widen, improve the footpath and remove the current uneven surfaces (upright stones and pebbles) and establish a second pedestrian crossing on Pendre Road. The new crossing will be linked to the existing pedestrian crossing, so when one set of lights changes the other will do the same.

Improvements will also be made to the pedestrian footway across the cathedral car park entrance.

"This Safe Routes in Community Active Travel project in Brecon will make such a positive difference to families with children at the Priory Church in Wales School." Says Cllr Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys.

"Not only will the improvements to the infrastructure and access make it safer to walk to school, but it will also encourage families to leave the car at home - improving their health and wellbeing, reducing carbon emissions and helping combat climate change.

"Welsh Government have made it clear that active travel must be the natural mode of choice for short everyday journeys, or as part of a longer journey in combination with other sustainable modes, and the continued investment into practical active travel routes within Powys, like this project in Brecon, will help us achieve this vision."