'Traffic ruining people's day to day life and Welsh Government should fund 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. A £14m bypass for Llanbedr was given the go-ahead in March 2020 but 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 the 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 Senedd Member for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Mabon ap Gwynfor says the government should be directly funding the scheme after pulling the plug on the original project.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mabon ap Gwynfor MS said: "A fortnight ago, you were celebrating the fact that you'd asked for a specific amount of funding form the Westminster government through the Spending Review and that you'd received the money that you'd asked for.
"Last week I asked the Cabinet Secretary for Transport why a bid wasn't made for funding for plans in northwest Wales and the response I got was that it wasn't that simple – you need plans that are operational within three years and that's why bids hadn't been made. You will be aware of the Llanbedr Bypass Scheme – it was your government that withdrew funding for the Llanbedr bypass originally, and therefore it's your government that has prevented those plans from being developed.
"It was a plan – if implemented and if the funding was in place – it could be operational by 2027. There is no excuse as to why that cannot proceed, apart from the fact that you're not funding it. Will you make a commitment today that you support the Llanbedr Bypass Scheme and that you're willing to find the monies to ensure that Gwynedd Council can proceed with that programme as soon as possible."
First Minister Eluned Morgan said: "Well, the Labour Government is eager to ensure that local leaders do have a greater say on which roads, and so forth, that should be developed.
"That's why we're going to ensure that financial allocations in the future are based on the decision made by the corporate joint committee. I think that it is important to note the fact that a working group has been established between Cyngor Gwynedd and the Welsh Government and Transport Wales to consider the options that are available to deal with transport problems in Llanbedr.
"We've already given £0.5 million to Cyngor Gwynedd to continue with the design development. Then, what will need to be done is that they will then need to convince and work with the CJC to make the case for that funding coming to Llanbedr."
Mabon ap Gwynfor MS added: "In her response the First Minister said that a pot of £100m was being provided to local authorities across north Wales for transport infrastructure and that Gwynedd will have to argue the case for £32m of this pot. It's the Welsh government that pulled the plug on Llanbedr's shovel-ready plans four years ago, therefore it is their responsibility to now ensure that the relief road is fully funded and goes ahead without further delay."
Local councillor Gwynfor Owen added: "I am grateful to our Member of Senedd Mabon ap Gwynfor for raising this matter with the First Minister today. The issue of the Llanbedr Relief Road is of utmost importance for the area, for safety reasons as well as for economic opportunities for the future. If the Welsh Government want to show that they are a government for the whole of Wales they should immediately guarantee the funding that this project needs."
Cyngor Gwynedd Leader, Cllr Nia Jeffreys said: 'This on-going saga at Llanbedr is ruining people's day to day life in the village itself. Walkers are being put at risk due to the inadequacies of the road infrastructure not fit for 21st century use and the environmental effects of heavy traffic at standstill regularly at the village during busy periods is a serious cause for concern.
"In addition, the economic impact this inferior road infrastructure is having on this rural area has been an issue since the late 1950s. It is high time that this Labour Government did what is needed, take decisive action now.'
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