Compulsory purchase orders could be used to keep £14m Gwynedd bypass project on track

Compulsory purchase orders will be used if necessary to ensure that a £14m Gwynedd bypass project remains on track.

Due to the volume of traffic heading towards Shell Island, congestion has long been a problem in parts of the A496 which runs through the Meirionnydd village of Llanbedr, with calls for a solution dating back over 50 years.

But to allow the project to move forward on time, Tuesday saw members of Gwynedd Council’s cabinet approve the use of compulsory purchase orders if agreement cannot be reached with any of the 14 individually affected landowners.

The current timescale would see construction completed during the spring of 2023, with hopes that the 1.5km  bypass will also improve access to Llanbedr Airfield – also known as Snowdonia Aerospace Centre – and currently used for testing and developing unmanned drone aircraft for civilian use.

Plans for the bypass were passed for a second time in March of this year after the initial approval by the Snowdonia National Park saw an unhappy landowner submit an application for a judicial review on the basis of its impact on a nearby Special Area of Conservation.

The objection period for the more recent approval has now passed, however, meaning that Gwynedd Council may now proceed as planned.

During Tuesday’s virtual cabinet meeting, councillors were told that use of compulsory purchase orders “would not be draconian” and only if absolutely necessary and if talks with the affected landowners failed to reach a resolution.

Cllr Dafydd Meurig noted this may be one of the last major projects in Gwynedd to benefit from significant EU funding – almost £4m of the overall cost, with the Welsh Government making up the bulk and Gwynedd Council contributing £500,000.

“There’s no certainty that Westminster will make up this shortfall and is something we need to consider going forward,” he concluded.

Cllr Gareth Thomas stressed the economic benefits of the plan, which is hoped will facilitate more well-paid jobs at the airfield as part of the Snowdonia Enterprise Zone.

According to Gwynedd Council, local traffic problems are currently accentuated by the nature of the single track bridge over the river Artro in the centre of the village, street parking and the number of junctions on to the A496 leading into Llanbedr.

Cllr Annwen Hughes, who represents Llanbedr,  welcomed the cabinet’s decision.

“I’m aware that discussions began for road improvements in this area way back in 1953, so today marks an important milestone in improving the road infrastructure of Ardudwy,” she said.

“Recent years have seen a culmination of tourism traffic, heavy goods vehicles coupled with local traffic, all battling to move in this area along a narrow windy road, with a listed stone bridge in the village of Llanbedr, causing all kinds of congestion.

“At peak bank holiday season, Llanbedr can see a huge surge of vehicles travelling in the area, locked in standstill at the centre of the village.

“Coupled with a new bypass and improvements to the access road to Llanbedr Airfield, the authority today by cabinet members will have a positive impact on our local day to day lives, both here at Llanbedr, Llanfair, Dyffryn Ardudwy, Barmouth and Harlech, as traffic moves more freely to these destinations.

“Improving the road infrastructure will have a positive impact on our local economy, on local businesses and on local people’s day to day lives.

“We have a long road ahead of us, but today marks an important milestone for this project and this area.”

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter