Backing for new road at village where bypass was scrapped

A WELSH Government study has recommended a relief road for a clogged village which had its bypass plan scrapped four years ago.

- By OWEN HUGHES Chief Reporter

For years Llanbedr in Gwynedd has suffered from traffic chaos during busy periods.

A £14 million bypass was given the go-ahead in March 2020. But it was then scrapped in November 2021 following a climate change roads review by the Welsh Government.

The government later said a new ‘low-speed’ road plan to relieve pressure from the village centre could still be on the table - putting forward £400,000 for work to progress proposals.

Consultants WSP worked in partnership with Cyngor Gwynedd and civil engineering consultancy YGC to finalise the potential options for improvements in and around Llanbedr, as part of the WelTAG (Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance) Stage Two study. The report from that study has now been published, with it concluding that a 40mph relief road should be pursued.

It estimates it would reduce the number of vehicles travelling through the village centre by 200 an hour during peak periods.

The report said: “The WelTAG appraisal has demonstrated that the best performing options are those that combine a low-speed relief road with measures that enhance sustainable transport.

It is therefore recommended that Option 6 and Option 10 are progressed to the next stage of WelTAG for further consideration.