Plaid Cymru councillors in Caerphilly town have launched a campaign against the planned closure of a well-used railway footbridge.
The footbridge, which which spans the Rhymney Valley line from King Edward Avenue to the bus station car park, is used by hundreds of people every day, including school children.
St Martin’s ward councillors Colin Elsbury, James Fussell and Stephen Kent and Councillor Ron Davies, cabinet member for regeneration and countryside, are urging the public to write protest letters to Network Rail and the Welsh Assembly Government. They have also vowed to attend a court hearing next month to oppose the proposals.
The bridge is well used by school children on their way to and from Twyn Infants and Junior School and by pupils at St Martin’s Comprehensive School.
The alternative route that Network Rail proposes involves entering the railway platform, walking along the platform, up over a smaller, steeper bridge, and then down into the main entrance of the busy Caerphilly Railway Station and Bus Station Terminus.
The plan to remove the bridge is to accommodate a longer platform at the station.
Cllr Davies, who is standing as a Plaid Cymru candidate in next year’s Welsh Assembly elections, said: “I shall do all I can to stop this daft idea in its tracks. We do not oppose an additional railway platform being created but are totally against the demolition of the footbridge.
“Our view is that it can be incorporated into the plans for an extra platform. The bridge should only be replaced with a new one – but apparently the money is not available. Well, it needs to be found.”
He added that he would be writing formally to object to the proposal.
Cllr Elsbury said: “The decision by Network Rail and WAG clearly shows they are living in cloud cuckoo land. They have absolutely no idea of the effect that the removal of this bridge will have on the local community, especially the young children who use this route to go to school.
“We do have real concerns about the alternative proposed because it will add up to 20 minutes to journey times.
“Once on the platform there is nothing to stop anyone walking to the end and crossing the line. And there are no plans to fence it off.”
The application to close the bridge is due to be heard at Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court on November 11 at 2pm.
Residents who object to the closure can write to: Head of Legal Services, Penallta House, Tredomen Park, Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed, CF82 7PG.
I share the concerns about the closure of this footbridge. I'm writing to Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, the Minister for Transport (and Leader of Plaid Cymru), to find out why they think it should be closed. I'll pass on the information as soon as I get it.