What measures is the Welsh Government taking to address problems associated with narrow pavements given the impact that this has on vulnerable groups such as wheelchair users?
Substandard footways unfortunately exist in many locations as a consequence of how the road network has developed historically. Any new schemes will follow inclusive design principles in line with our Active Travel Act Guidance.
The Welsh Government wants to encourage people to make many more journeys by active travel, i.e. walking and cycling, which includes use of wheelchairs, and has increased investment in creating and improving active travel routes significantly. Under the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013, local authorities have a duty to prepare Active Travel Network Maps which show their plans for networks of walking and cycling routes in all their larger settlements. Routes must be audited to assess their quality and plans for improvements developed on this basis. Local authorities can use their core allocation from the Active Travel Fund to make smaller scale improvements, such as widening of pavements and paths, providing crossing points, dropped kerbs, and similar schemes, without having to go through a competitive application process.
Where, through the active travel mapping process, local authorities identify the need for active travel routes or improvements on, or intersecting with trunk roads, the Welsh Government then works with the local authorities to prioritise schemes and agree the appropriate process to take schemes forward. Schemes may either be incorporated into the Welsh Government trunk road walking and cycling programme, or the local authority may take the lead in progressing the scheme in coordination with the Welsh Government.