THE official opening of Pont y Werin by the deputy first minister is now set for July 14 (last week's steering committee was informed).

The six-week delay is due to stainless steel handrails ordered from Germany, which have to be finished over here.

The Harbour Authority expects the completed project to be handed over on June 25 or 28 and opened for use from that date. None of the cycleway links to the bridge on the Vale of Glamorgan side will be ready.

The £300,000 grant for such links secured for the current year cannot be spent, as potential projects have not progressed.

Penarth cyclists are rightly very annoyed, pointing out the failure to appoint a project officer under the legal agreement between the council and Sustrans.

The Vale officers are making efforts to show progress before the July 14 opening - on the contraflow cycleway in Arcot Street, and on the route through the woodland up to Hill Terrace from Tesco's car park, possibly using Railtrack land.

Nothing has been done for high-quality walking routes to the new bridge. The promise to consider the much-needed link to Cogan station under the Cogan Hill road is still only on paper, despite the £300,000 funding (and similar sum on offer for next year).

Max Wallis Westbourne Road Penarth