PROPOSALS to make major sustainable travel improvements in Newport city centre have been progressed.
The plans set out a series of improvements to Newport railway station, Queensway and Old Green roundabout, and include:
- A new public transport interchange at Newport rail station, linking rail and bus services, making the station a hub for sustainable travel.
- Highway revisions to replace Old Green roundabout, with priority access lanes for buses and simplified active travel routes which are convenient and attractive for all users.
- Opportunities to improve the public realm, including the areas around Newport Castle.
The proposals take forward key recommendations of the South East Wales Transport Commission, which are being overseen by the Burns Delivery Unit.
The unit, which is led by Transport for Wales, in partnership with Welsh Government and local authorities of Newport, Monmouthshire and Cardiff, is developing a sustainable travel network across south-east Wales.
A public consultation on the plans was held in spring 2023 with over 2,400 responses received. A summary of the responses has been published in a consultation report.
Since the consultation closed, the partners of the Burns Delivery Unit (BDU) have been reviewing the feedback and assessing a number of proposed refinements to the plans and testing their feasibility.
The BDU partners have been working collaboratively on reviewing some of the elements of the original plans to incorporate the valuable feedback that was collated during the consultation, including how to treat the culturally significant murals at Old Green, and amending the scheme designs to incorporate comments from transport providers, and businesses involved in the night-time economy in and around High Street.
The next stage will be to continue engaging stakeholders and residents on the plans, and to secure the funding from government for the delivery of these sustainable travel improvement plans.
Councillor Rhian Howells, Newport City Council’s cabinet member for infrastructure and assets, said: “Old Green is a vital part of the travel network in Newport and it is important that we get things right.
“Should these proposals go ahead, they will make it easier for people to get around Newport and will better link Newport Castle with the city centre.”
“The informative feedback we have received from people has allowed us to refine the plans, shaping them to better serve people’s needs.
Transport for Wales Chief Transport and Development Officer, Geoff Ogden, said: “These proposals have the potential to significantly improve travel in Newport by providing better links between rail and bus and better routes for walking, wheeling and cycling. Helping people to travel by these types of transport will make Newport a greener and healthier place.
“We would like to thank all those that took the time to provide their feedback to the consultation and helped shape these important plans for the city.”
