Porthkerry Park right of way

I have been using the Porthkerry Park right of way for over 50 years since moving to Barry in 1960.

Firstly by walking and from the early 1970's on push bikes. It is an easy way to get to the Airport to see the planes.

In the early years I remember vehicles driving along the route and the main danger to them was from the deep water filled hollows. Over the last few years the route has been encouraged to become very overgrown to discourage anyone to use it, whether by bike or walking.

I got so fed up with the situation about six years ago that I spent several afternoons cutting back the vegetation so that I could ride my mountain bike through to get to a family grave at Porthkerry Church. I was using a lopper and woodsaw, as it was that bad.

Everyone that passed by was very appreciative of my efforts, except the owners of the Egerton Grey Hotel. They had spotted me and both came down to see what I was doing. They were polite and expressed the view that my efforts would encourage more motorcycles to use the route.

I didn't mention it but shortly prior to our chat, two quadbikes had passed and were intending to follow the footpath back on the other side of the valley up to Porthkerry Church .

I have always thought that the route should be improved so that walkers and cyclists could use it safely at any time of the year. I worked on unemployment schemes in Gwent and Mid Glamorgan where the unemployed worked on pathway schemes in the mid 1980's. Our teams prepared the base and road scalpings and dust were rolled in to form nice cycleways.

Until the last few years the Vale Authorities have been backward in this respect . Vale cyclists only had a starter box at lights. The Rhoose Cycle Path improvement and the Colcot Cycle Path shows what can be done.

The route through Porthkerry Park would be well used by cyclists and pedestrians if it was improved, especially by airport employees. I was surprised that the owners of Egerton Grey didn't improve it for their guests, as I have seen lots over the years trying to get to the pebble beach along the overgrown and flooded track. I ride the road these days as I use an electric bike, I wouldn't want to risk damage to it by going through Porthkerry Park. I would much rather take the safer route through the Park though!

I hope that something comes of this project as I am in my mid 70's now and it would be nice to avoid the busy Rhoose Road to get out of Barry in a westerly direction, especially the section from the Co-op petrol station to the Days Inn roundabout. I would naturally offer any assistance whether physical or discussion to make this a reality .