South Wales Evening Post - 2 May 2007
The rumpus over bendy bus route proposals for Swansea's foreshore is sparking fresh anger.
Mumbles Community Council has labelled the possibility of Swansea Council turning a grassy stretch at Blackpill into a new bus lane an "act of vandalism".
They strongly oppose any messing with the foreshore, fearing trees would be for the chop and private property snapped up.
No decision has yet been taken on the idea and it is understood a number of potential routes for the buses are being looked at. But council bosses have confirmed the idea is still on the cards despite massive public protest.
They want to see public transport improved to a level at which more people will be willing to give up their cars and hop on board instead.
However, the idea of a lane between Mayals Road and West Cross has caused uproar at a meeting between the community council and Swansea Council.Community council vice-chairman Roger Beynon said: "If implemented, the proposal would be an act of vandalism, and ruin the huge improvement in the public use for recreation of this length of promenade.
"To turn the clock back some 50 years for no quantifiable benefit would be reprehensible.''
The hugely controversial proposal would mean bendy buses leaving Mumbles Road near the Junction cafe, travelling just over a kilometre along the foreshore on a new lane, and re-emerging at West Cross opposite Alderwood Road.
In the past Swansea Council has described the new lane option at Blackpill as a "preferred" or "proposed" route.
And in March it told the Post it currently had "no firm proposal" in place. But a meeting of councillors on Monday was told the idea was still being mooted.
A Swansea Council spokeswoman said: "It was made clear (at the meeting) that there will be no need to acquire any private land. Unfortunately, the community council appears to have missed this important point."
Councillor John Hague added: "It would seem that some members of Mumbles Community Council are using the Metro scheme to score political points, opposing it out of hand after apparently misunderstanding what was said."
West Cross resident Alma Hope said: "The bay is Swansea's 'front parlour' as far as I am concerned. Why would anyone want to drive a road along it?''
