Powys council called ‘liars’ after they claimed a Llandrindod Wells active travel scheme is popular

Claims that a Llandrindod Wells active travel scheme had ‘strong public support’ and was being well used, led to a town councillor calling the county council ‘liars’.

Town councillor Neil Bastow said he believed that the claims were false and he said the county council were ‘liars’.

The county council’s email informing the town council of work on the next stage of the path between Llandrindod Wells and Howey claimed the completed section between Fiveways and Grosvenor Road was being used for a ‘significant number of daily pedestrian and cycle journeys’

It also claimed ‘engagement undertaken for the earlier phase of the scheme demonstrated strong public support for this route.’

But town councillors at the March meeting disagreed and said they were disappointed with the email and felt much of it was inaccurate and misleading.

Councillor Bastow said the county council had provided no evidence of their claims of public support or user numbers and the email claimed they had undertaken a door knock and letter drop exercise in October but he said he had spoken to numerous people about the third phase in the area and they did not know anything about it until press reports emerged.

Councillor Chris Owen (Blue) agreed and said there were no links to any evidence and perhaps the town council should ask for it.

Llandrindod Wells Mayor Councillor Steve Deeks D-Silva said they could submit a Freedom of Information request.

“I think a FOI request would be a great idea to get the user figures. It’s just not possible now in a vehicle to get along that road, you have to hold back and wait for space and it’s a trunk road. I have seen lots of negative social media comments about it,” said Councillor Paul Smith.

Councillor Deeks-D’Silva said; “A review of the active travel scheme was reported on by Audit Wales and they found that since 2018 £216m has been spent on the schemes, however there is insufficient data available to evidence any percentage increase in active travel.

“If they had invested that £216m in schools teaching children to cook with basic food so they could eat healthily, we would have had a much healthier country. It seems a very strange way of going about things.

“I am sure it is wonderful within Cardiff or Wrexham where everything is within 20 minutes but our nearest cinema is eight miles away how many of us would cycle to go and see a film?”

Councillor Smith added: “That would have been a fabulous investment in public transport in the local area. I have two small children how would I get them to the cinema on bikes.”

Councillor Owen added: “The comments I have heard have been overwhelmingly negative.”

Councillor Steve Sims said at an earlier consultation event at the Pavilion everybody he spoke to was overwhelmingly against the scheme. “It beggars belief,” he said.

Members agreed that accurate information should be requested via a Freedom of Information request from Powys County Council.

They will ask for accurate historic and current data on the usage of this facility prior to and since its development which relates to cycles, vehicles and pedestrians and details of the engagement with residents and groups relating to Phase III of this scheme.

Particularly in relation to the statement about “officers carried out a door-knock and letter-drop exercise in October 2025, speaking with a number of residents immediately adjacent to the South of the large layby on the A483 at the edge of town.

A Powys County Council spokesperson said: ”The active travel route between Llandrindod Wells and Howey was first identified during community engagement exercises carried out to shape Powys’ Active Travel Network Map. These engagement activities helped highlight opportunities to improve local walking and cycling facilities, supporting more residents to choose active travel for short, everyday journeys. Following a further public consultation in July 2021, Welsh Government ministers granted final approval for the updated network map.

“A dedicated consultation on the Llandrindod Wells–Howey route was then undertaken by the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency (NMWTRA) on behalf of Welsh Government in November and December 2023. The findings were shared with Llandrindod Wells Town Council.

“Residents directly affected by the current phase of works have been engaged by council officers and the contractors delivering the scheme, ensuring they are kept informed and have the opportunity to raise any questions or concerns.

“Monitoring data shows strong use of the route. An automatic counter positioned between Fiveways and Grosvenor Road records a significant number of pedestrian and cycle journeys each day, demonstrating the value of the route to the community.”