A war of words has broken out over what a former community councillor has called an "unsafe" cycle route which it's been claimed will take away street parking. However, the council leader has said her claims are false and "falls below that expected of an elected member".
Ms Thomas said the action needs to be taken over the proposed routes put forward for Mayals Avenue, Fairwood Road, Linden Avenue, Moorside and West Cross. She said: “These routes need to be urgently re-assessed. They are not safe. Residents of Mayals Avenue, Fairwood Road, Linden Avenue, Moorside and West Cross, are very annoyed that shared cycle paths have been included on the next Active Travel NM submitted to the Welsh Government and will take away some on road parking.”
She added that Councillor Mark Thomas in a meeting last year indicated the cycle route would not be re-routed along Fairwood Road and in a public meeting said: "It's not in anybody's interest to implement schemes that don't work."
Ms Thomas was unable to specify how many spaces would be lost but the impact of having the scheme head along that route, as set out in the plan, would have that impact.
"Parking will be lost and I do not support dangerous schemes,.” she said. "I have had disabled people across Swansea getting in touch who have complained after losing parking."
But Councillor Rob Stewart, Swansea council's leader, said the plans have not yet been approved, contradicted her claims and said he would now make a formal complaint about her. He said: "This is a further example of ex councillor Louise Thomas misrepresenting information and claiming things which are untrue. Her behaviour consistently falls below that expected of an elected member.
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“Louise Thomas has made a habit of making unsubstantiated claims and statements on social media. She has misrepresented information provided to her in good faith by officers of the council. One of her latest claims on social media that the active travel map is something that Swansea Council did not want the Public to see. That is a blatant lie.
"Our integrated network map went out for public consultation right across Swansea last autumn. The map showed the full extent of the potential for an Active Travel Network across Swansea which could be considered over the next 15 years that map and network is not yet approved even in principle and is with WG (Welsh Government) for consideration. Louise Thomas has also started that when the grant funding is approved it will be built without any consultation just as we did apparently on the Mayals Road Scheme.
"We have submitted all of our bids for this year, none of them include the areas in Mayals and West Cross that she states.” He added: “I can confirm that the only bids we are considering in this area this year are across Clyne Common (which has the full support of the leader of the conservatives Lyndon Jones), and a scheme to improve cycling on the existing Promenade - which has also been in the public domain.
"The suggestion that we have put in bids for Clyne Drive, Mayals, Mulgrave Way, Linden Avenue, Moorside Road, Fairwood Road and bottom part of West Cross Lane are an absolute lie. There are no current plans for new routes along these streets, and if we chose to apply for funding for them at any point in the future, then communities would have further opportunities to get involved and give their views.
"Such is the degree of deliberate misinformation and misrepresentation that Louise Thomas continues to issue, I have no choice but to submit a formal complaint to the body that oversees her profession career, as I’m aware that the body expects her to uphold the highest standards of integrity and honesty.”
Controversial cycle path plans have been raised elsewhere in the city, you can read more here. Rebecca Fogarty, a Mumbles community councillor for West Cross, said: “We have heard from countless residents the importance of reducing pollution and traffic, promoting physical activity and making our streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists. Active travel in Swansea will support all of these objectives.
"The ongoing attempts to spread misinformation and fear about the plans only serve to undermine schemes that will benefit our communities in multiple ways and should be seen as attempts to further one individual’s profile rather than engage meaningfully in the debate about how active travel can work best." The Welsh Government confirmed it was in receipt of the Active Travel Network from Swansea Council.
