Ceredigion council has announced its plans to connect a cycle and footpath between Aberystwyth and Machynlleth.

As reported last week in the Cambrian News, Powys council announced plans for its consultation on the plans, and Ceredigion have now revealed their plans for new walking and cycling routes in the county, which include a joined-up plan to link the two towns.

The Ceredigion consultation was launched on Friday and follows walking and cycling consultations which took place earlier this year with a total of 1,003 active participants and 778 comments received.

The Council, with the support of Sustrans, has carefully considered all the comments and combined this public opinion together with other relevant information to produce a draft Active Travel Network Map for Aberystwyth, Cardigan and Lampeter.

The plans would see an additional 49 kilometres of walking and cycling future routes compared to the map that was approved in 2017.

The outcome of the review will provide Ceredigion County Council with a forward plan of routes that it will use to inform where future improvements to walking and cycling can be made within the county.

The council said the plans “will help to make journeys on foot or by bike more accessible and safer for everyone, particularly those who don’t currently walk or cycle often and people who may use mobility aids.”

“The Council is now inviting residents to let it know if the proposed routes are more likely to help them get around their local area as a pedestrian or cyclist,” the authority said.

“If not, the council is asking you to consider what other improvements may be appropriate.

“Active Travel, aimed at giving as many people as possible the ability to choose an alternative to motorised travel, is defined as walking and cycling for everyday purposeful short-distance journeys, not including journeys purely made for recreation or social reasons.

“The council’s Active Travel Network Map (ATNM) has been reviewed, taking into account earlier comments received from the public and interested parties, and a new Consultation Draft ATNM has now been prepared.

“This sets out existing routes in built-up areas and the council’s aspirations for the next 15 years, noting that construction of “future routes” will be subject to grant funding applications, availability of land, environmental and drainage conditions etc.”

Cllr Dafydd Edwards, Ceredigion County Council cabinet member for highways and environmental services said: “As someone who never walks, it is important to have the views of the people who have pleasure in walking and cycling what they would like to see included in an active travel map.”

The consultation can be viewed online at www.ceredigion3.commonplace.is