A section of a footpath that collapsed in May and has been closed to the public ever since will reopen within weeks, a councillor has said.

A ramped section of the footbridge by Aberystwyth Rugby Club collapsed due to a landslip nearly three months ago.

While the footbridge remains open, for months there has been no ramped access to the bridge on the side by Mudiad Meithrin and The Starling Cloud, leaving people with disabilities and parents with pushchairs struggling with the steps.

Access has been restricted to the rugby club, schools and nursery nearby.

County councillor Alun Williams has now said that agreement over land to use to rebuild a temporary ramp before finalising designs to reinstate a permanent structure have now been reached.

Cllr Williams said: “Council officers have been liaising with a local scaffolding company regarding the design and provision of a temporary ramp which will follow the line of the existing path between the current ramp and the railway line.

“It had been anticipated that this could have been erected quite swiftly after the collapse of the current ramp, but due to the complexity of design to ensure safe public access, the proximity to the railway line, the need for lighting and the footprint of the support required to make it structurally safe it has been necessary to discuss the design with both Mudiad Meithrin and the Vale of Rheidol.

“I am pleased to note that Vale of Rheidol have agreed to allow supports to be placed on land adjacent to the railway line which means that less of the Mudiad Meithrin land is required as this would have resulted in a significant loss of land and parking for them.

“Works to erect the structure will commence shortly, although it is anticipated that erecting the structure could take three or four weeks to complete.”