Editor

The recent flooding that has closed the A487 through Machynlleth shows precisely why the proposed new bridge route will be a waste of money.

The Welsh Government’s current plan for the new bridge is built is to install a bund near the eco park to hold the water back then two or three pumps will pump the water away.

It is doubtful 50 pumps would have coped with the volume of water that has flooded the area last week.

In any event where would they pump the water to? If it was downstream that would only back the river up and add to the problem. The people who have been mostly affected by this latest flooding and road closure are the people of south Gwynedd, who could not access hospital services at Aberystwyth.

Minister Ken Skates has claimed his current plan will improve the resilience of the road network, but we have clear evidence this week that it will not.

The £40m bridge would have flooded at the same location under the railway bridge and closed the route.

It is now indisputable the only long-term solution is a partial bypass of Machynlleth from the north A487 looping around the west of the town with the new bridge taking the road over the railway line.

This will ensure the main arterial North/South Wales coast road is fully resilient in the event of the most severe flooding. Yes it will cost more than the current £40m proposal, however we have to think and plan long term. With what we now understand about global warming the flooding we have witnessed this week could become a regular occurrence.

If a partial bypass and bridge over the railway line cost £60m-£70m it is only a small increase to solve a problem that has blighted rural mid Wales for years but would now bring benefit for the next 200 years. I call upon minister Ken Skates to halt the current plan and have a full review taking into account the needs of the people of south Gwynedd.

Cllr Mike Steven,s Pier Road, Tywyn.

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