CAMPAIGNERS believe that local people will soon be able to benefit from safer travel following last week's decision by Forest planners to approve the Dean part of the Wye Valley cycleway.

The proposed new walking and cycling path will link Chepstow with Tintern and beyond after the plans were approved by Forest of Dean Council's Development Control Committee.

The charitable organisation Sustrans proposed that the path will largely follow the former Wye Valley railway line, and that the plans allow for the re-opening of two of the former tunnels on the route.

A new truss bridge will be built across the River Wye to Old Station Tintern, using the old abutments of a previous railway bridge.

Rupert Crosbee, scheme manager for Sustrans, said: "This path will be a major benefit to the local community, linking a number of towns and villages together.

"Local people will be able to make more local journeys easily and safely without having to get in their car."

However the committee, in front of a packed public gallery heard from a number of objectors.

Tony Summers, spokes­man for the Hewelsfield and Brockweir Parish Council said: "This organisation registered its inability to support the Sustrans application based on lack of parking and general infrastructure, along with the suitability and safety of the proposed ramp at Brockweir Bridge and the impact that additional traffic and congestion would have in our area.

"It appears that none of these issues have been addressed in this application. In fact they seem to have been ignored."

Another objector Camilla Hollinshead pointed out that the Wye Valley had very poor public transport links and added: "This application is very reliant on car parking with little in the way of spaces being created."

Local member Patrick Molyneux said: "I think the idea of a cycle path is excellent. However, we do have to look whether we have the infrastructure and car parking provision to support this application."

Tom Edwards, a Wyedean School sixth form student told the committee that the school site would provide ample parking and the cycleway would be a fantastic link between local communities. He added: "It would enable pupils to freely move between the communities without having to negotiate the main roads."

Cllr David Thomson said: "Sustrans give the impression that cyclists will start in Sedbury where there is ample parking, but in reality people will choose the nicest places to start and that's Brockweir or Tintern, where parking is an issue.

"This is really a tourist attraction, not something to benefit local people."

The scheme is being part-funded from a £50m grant from the Big Lottery Fund which was awarded to Sustrans following the People's Millions contest on television in 2007.

The plans in the Welsh part of the valley should be heard by Monmouthshire County Council planners before the end of the year.