A GROUP of Penarth residents are campaigning to preserve a national cycle route running through the town.

Residents of Arcot Street have petitioned the Vale of Glamorgan Council not to alter a Sustrans - the national cycling and walking charity - cycle route from Margam to Newport that would see the route stop dead in Penarth.

Under Vale Council plans for Penarth Town Centre development, one-way traffic will only be allowed up Arcot Street, while cyclists heading downhill on Upper Arcot Street will be diverted through the Glebe Street and Windsor Road shopping areas.

A petition from residents wants cyclists to be able to use the street in both directions, preserving the line of the N88 cycle route through Pont y Werin - the bridge connecting Penarth Marina with Cardiff Bay which is due to be built next year.

A spokesperson for the residents said: "We're not asking for a specific cycle lane, only for signage which would exempt cyclists from the one-way ruling.

“It works very successfully elsewhere - not only on the continent where it's the general pattern, but in other towns in the UK.

“This is a heavily used route for cyclists to the Cardiff Bay Barrage, and in future to Pont-y-Werin."

As previously reported in the Penarth Times, Arcot Street will accommodate considerably increased chevron parking, and residents have also asked for tree planters to help traffic calming under the new one-way proposals.

Their campaign has been backed by local Plaid Cymru members.

Penarth branch spokesperson Luke James said: "Plaid supports the residents' petition fully and urges the Vale council to engage in a positive community dialogue to make sure the best plans are implemented for Arcot Street.

“The residents are showing great community spirit and trying to engage positively with the Council to ensure their street is not affected negatively by these new plans.

“We ask the Vale Council to enter into a dialogue with the residents that will result in effective cyclist use, traffic calming measures and a better environment for the people living on Arcot Street.”