A NEW cycling facility is now open in Newport after council workers have transformed a neglected plot of land.

Staff from Newport council's streetscene team carried out the work at Barrack Hill to create a space for the community to use complete with a new pumptrack.

The project, which also involved moving invasive knotweed on the site, was completed thanks to funding from the Welsh Government's Tidy Town initiative.

The pumptrack was officially opened yesterday by Newport mayor, Cllr Matthew Evans.

Cllr Ken Critchley, Newport City Council’s cabinet member for infrastructure, said: “Occasions such as this are very satisfying. With a little imagination and funding from the Welsh Government’s Tidy Town initiative we have been able to transform a space that was tired, and for all intents and purposes redundant, into a living space that the residents can enjoy and feel proud of.

“I’d like to thanks everyone who’s been involved in this project and particularly Newport City Council’s Streetscene team for their hard work and efforts to remove the invasive knotweed and for the delivery of this excellent facility.”