'Traffic ruining people's day to day lives... Govt must fund the solution'

BACKERS of the Llanbedr bypass will need to bid for cash from a new regional transport body rather than get direct funding from Welsh Government.

- By OWEN HUGHES Business Correspondent

A £14million bypass for Llanbedr was given the go-ahead in March 2020 but was then scrapped in November 2021 following a climate change roads review by the government.

The problem with traffic congestion has not gone away and always becomes more acute in the summer months.

Welsh Government has 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 potential options for improvements in and around Llanbedr. This included an updated design for a potential new road to the west of Llanbedr.

A “material start” was also made on parts of the previously approved scheme to ease the way when it comes to planning.

But this week the First Minister said any bid for funding would now need to be made to a newly formed Corporate Joint Committee for North Wales, made up of local authorities.

This has been allocated £100m to be used in the region on transport.

But Plaid Cymru MS for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Mabon ap Gwynfor, says the government should directly fund the scheme, having pulled the plug on the original project.