A CYCLE hire scheme extension may be in the works.

Nextbike could be coming to Penarth after proving popular in Cardiff.

Emma Reed, Vale of Glamorgan Council’s head of neighbourhood services and transport, confirmed in a meeting that the authority is due to meet Nextbike as part of highways improvements in the town.

It comes as Nextbike is set to double its cycle hire scheme in Cardiff by the end of the summer with an additional 500 bikes and 65 docking stations.

Her comments came in a debate over a proposed new traffic system at Plassey Street and Windsor Road – a major route in and out of Penarth.

The council plans to enlarge the roundabout’s central island, using land from The Dingle Park, in a bid to slow down vehicles using the junction, and install two new toucan crossings in Windsor Road and Penarth Road.

But the plans were called in for greater scrutiny by Councillor Ruba Sivagnanam – who said the option does not go far enough to tackle the traffic problems in the area.

The highway plan would cost £870,000 – funded by contributions from the Penarth Heights development.

But the Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee heard on March 7 that much of the Penarth Heights money has to be spent by February 2020 – and any further delays could jeopardise the project.

Mrs Reed said the roundabout widening plan would slow down traffic in the area.

She said: “This brings the roundabout into more of an engineering standard, potentially making it safer for people walking and cycling.

“We’re working with Nextbikes as part of that – we’re due to meet them and other parties interested in cycle schemes.”

Cllr Sivagnanam said the proposal was being rushed through which underlines how “there’s no strategy to Penarth”.

She said: “This proposal to me is a bit like moving the deck chairs on the Titanic. We’re creating work which is not really necessary. If we want to improve the gateway there are other ways of doing it.

“It really doesn’t begin to tackle the active travel (challenges). I do feel this is about spending the money before next February.”

Councillors were told the widened roundabout was one part of a wider strategy for transport improvements in Penarth.

Charlotte Pugh, senior planner for the council, said the new scheme would transform the area.

She said: “This whole are is going to be completely transformed. At the moment it is not very welcoming to pedestrians.

“I think it will go some way to transforming this gateway into Penarth and make it a safer environment.”

Previous plans to make part of Plassey Street one-way to incoming traffic, and removing the roundabout altogether, were dropped following opposition from the public.

The committee agreed to endorse the transport scheme but requested regular updates on the wider transport plans for Penarth.