 Concern has been raised about the safety of pedestrians |
A north Wales council could face a �55,000 bill to carry out work on a coastal cycle path after realising bicycles should not be allowed on parts of it. Conwy Council needs a conversion order to allow cyclists onto some stretches of the Towyn to Kinmel Bay cycle track which are also public footpaths.
The path runs along the sea front at Abergele, Towyn and Kinmel Bay and concern has been raised about the safety of the walkers who also use the route.
Bicycles are not officially allowed on public footpaths.
The need for extra spending to ensure the safety of walkers was realised when a consultation group was set up to confirm there was no opposition to allowing cyclists onto the track as well.
 |  Whilst guidance on the construction of a cycle track has been available for some time it was not employed in the design of this route which is of national significance  |
During the consultation exercise, concern was raised that walkers were not separated from cyclists on the route.
The Joint Committee on Mobility of Blind and Partially Sighted People said they would object to the track unless the changes were made.
This objection could lead to a public inquiry on the issue.
The Ramblers Association also raised concerns.
"Most of it is OK - but some users feel that walkers should be protected on some steep downhill parts," said Ron Williams, area secretary for the association in north Wales.
National significance
A report will be presented to the council's licensing and regulation committee next week recommending members to allow the order which would mean agreeing to the extra spending needed for the path.
Extra fencing or kerbing is being proposed to separate walkers and cyclists.
Council officials estimate that work on about nearly 2,500 metres of the footpath would cost them �55,000.
The route, first opened in 1999, forms part of the National Cycle Network.
Engineer Ian Lord, from the council's highways department, who prepared the report, says that if the council does not secure the conversion order, a significant section of the network will be lost.
"The situation in which the authority now finds itself is unfortunate," said Mr Lord.
"While guidance on the construction of the cycle track has been available for some time it was not employed in the design of this route which is of national significance," he said.
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