The new Welsh international sports village in Cardiff Bay is well on the way to completion. But there’s a problem: the only way you can get there is by car.
This bizarre state of affairs was the subject of a demonstration today, as 400 cyclists celebrated Earth Day by riding in convoy across the 4 lane highway - the ‘Cogan Spur’ - that is the main access route for the sports village. The protesters were demanding that Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Councils and the Harbour Authority commit funding to a bridge across the river Ely for pedestrians and cyclists.
Organisers of the demonstration had expected 50 or so cyclists to turn up. The Cogan Spur - from which pedestrians are banned - is normally braved by only the most hardened cyclist. So they were delighted when 400 people – including lots of families - turned up to form a huge convoy across the bridge as police stopped traffic to let them pass.
“It’s the biggest demonstration I’ve ever seen round here,” commented Tom Margrain, “and it’s a genuine grass roots campaign – there are no political or big campaign groups organising it.”
“It was great to cycle across the bridge,” beamed 10 year old Chloe Lewis. “Normally it would be much too scary. The only way I can get to the sports village is if my mum or dad drive me.”
Although the local councils have now put the bridge back on the agenda, current plans to fund it include an application for lottery money. This didn’t impress the protesters, who want to see a firm commitment to pay for the bridge. As Paul Kinnersley put it: "They didn't fund the extensive roadbuilding around the sports village with lottery money. Why are they prepared to spend money when its intrastructure for cars, but not when it's for pedestrians, cyclists or people using public transport? That’s bad enough for a shopping centre, but for a sports village it’s a joke."
