THE feasibility study of the Wye Valley Cycleway – now available in libraries on the route – examines four route options from Tintern to Bigsweir.

The Gloucestershire off-road option follows the disused railway line from Tintern Tunnel over a proposed new bridge into Tintern Station and continues on to Brockweir Bridge on a cycleway shared with walkers and wheelchair-users. To access the bridge a 100 metre ramp would replace the present steps. The route then crosses the bridge and turns left on to The Quay.

An alternative east bank route from Tintern to Brockweir would use the ancient Monks' Path, which enters Brockweir near Happa. The route would pass through the village in front of the pub and turn right on to The Quay.

The current traffic situation on Brockweir Bridge is potentially dangerous, but is manageable because local drivers know the road and take care.

Picture the scene as it would be with the Glos route option in place – with cyclists emerging from the ramp (in groups or clubs, maybe, and at peak times certainly, in large numbers) and crossing the road, perilously near the A466 junction, to access the bridge – with a probable build-up of cars in both directions waiting for them to cross.

On the bridge, cars and cyclists swerve to avoid walkers and sightseers admiring the view and crossing the road to see both sides and take photos as they all do.

In front of the Manor House there are cyclists from the bridge manoeuvring the very tricky downhill left turn to The Quay, cyclists travelling in the opposite direction emerging from The Quay and crossing the road on this dangerous blind corner to access the bridge – and cars travelling in both directions.

The alternative Monks' Path route creates similar cross-flow problems on this corner.

Add to that, the fact that the bridge forms part of a proposed "multi-user wheelchair-friendly figure-of-eight circuit" using the bridges.

The feasibility study does not consider that Brockweir Bridge will be a road-safety problem, provided that there are plenty of signs and road-markings to warn drivers of the presence of cyclists.

What do you think?

If you would like to communicate your thoughts to the Cycleway Project Officer, write to him c/o the AONB Office, Hadnock Rd, Mon-mouth NP25 3NG.

The public consultation period is open till December 14. – J. Lewis, Brockweir.

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I HAVE only recently read Bob Smyth's article on St. Briavels (September 21 2001) and note the comments of the clerk to the parish council.

My late father Mr R.G. Simpson of Tyme, Brockweir, together with Mr W.G. Creswick, J.P. did the survey of rights of way in the parishes of Brockweir and St. Briavels in the 1950s.

This survey was comprehensive and I can't imagine two more worthy individuals to have done it.

Many of the footpaths let to the Hudnalls free woods, appearing to go nowhere, but I well remember my father telling me on numerous occasions that the reason all the footpaths were not marked through the Hudnalls was because the Hudnalls Free Wood is a common and anyone can walk where they like on a common.

This is borne out on the provisional map prepared by my father and now in my possession. – James T. Simpson, Forest View, Whitelye, Catbrook.