Buses could start running along Cardiff Bay Barrage under plans to improve transport links between the capital and Penarth.

Vale of Glamorgan Council has been considering ways to improve travel between the seaside town and Cardiff Bay.

The Vale council has agreed to prepare full business cases for the possibility of a new headland walkway from Penarth Esplanade to the barrage, new cycle tracks and active travel routes in the town, and an upgraded railway station at Cogan.

The council was also considering a new park and ride facility at Cosmeston but this option has been dropped from a "Weltag" formal transport appraisal.

But the council has said it will separately consider options for some form of public transport running across the barrage following requests from Cardiff council and councillors on a scrutiny committee.

The ideas to improve transport between Cardiff and Penarth

Option one: Penarth headland link and active travel improvements

The council is considering building a headland link around Penarth – this would be a 1km pedestrian and cycleway between the Penarth Esplanade and Cardiff barrage.

New cycle routes would also be set up in key routes throughout the town, including from the Merrie Harrier junction to Pont y Werin and Penarth Road, while 20mph zones and a bike hire scheme would also be introduced to the town.

Penarth Headland Link Trust – a registered charity which has supplied the council with possible designs for the new walkway – has told the council the new walkway could cost around £10m.

The council's ruling body decided on October 21 to prepare a full business case for the active travel plans in Penarth and the headland link separately.

Option two: Park and ride at Cosmeston and buses along the barrage

This plan involved a new 150-space park and ride facility at Cosmeston Lakes Country Park.

Buses would then travel along the B4267, Westbourne Road, Stanwell Road, Albert Road, Clive Place, St Augustine's Crescent, Paget Place and Paget Road, before continuing over the Barrage to provide direct access to Cardiff Bay and the city centre.

During a consultation people expressed concerns about the impact of buses on the existing cycle tracks on the barrage.

And Capita, which has produced the report, said the park and ride would be "poor value for money" given the "significant funding" required to subsidise the bus services and limited demand.

The Vale council's cabinet decided not to progress with this option.

But the council will explore separately the idea of running some form of public transport across the barrage. There are no plans to consider letting private cars access the barrage.

It comes after Cardiff council and the Vale's Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee urged the Vale to keep the option of buses on the barrage on the table.

Option three: New 'transport interchange' at Cogan

In this option, Cogan Railway Station would be upgraded with a new 150-space park and ride, a new bridge across the rail line, a taxi pick-up and drop-off facility and improving nearby active travel routes.