A LONG-AWAITED cycle path scheme between Tywyn and Aberdyfi will be “one of the first in line” to receive funding, according to a Gwynedd councillor.

At Tywyn Town Council’s meeting last week, Cllr Mike Stevens was pleased to announce that plans for a cycle link between Tywyn and Aberdyfi were moving forward.

After receiving an e-mail from a Gwynedd Council official, Cllr Stevens said “money was available” for new active travel routes in Wales and that the Tywyn to Aberdyfi project was “one of the first in line” to receive funding.

Gwynedd Council has confirmed that £175,000 in funding has been received from the Welsh Government to invest in active travel schemes and that the Tywyn to Aberdyfi route was “included in the council’s programme for 2018/19”.

The money is likely be spent reviewing the existing feasibility study for the scheme.

Cllr Stevens said: “The council was overwhelmed by the strength of public feeling at an open day for the cycle path in Tywyn last September.

“Lots of locals from Tywyn and Aberdyfi turned up and it was an impressive turnout.

“As a community, we pushed a lot and we got what we wanted, it’s great to see that.”

When asked about funding, a Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “The council has recently received confirmation from the Welsh Government about the funding allocation for Active Travel schemes throughout Wales.

“The government confirmed that the council would receive £175,000 from a Wales-wide funding pot of £5m for 2018/19 to develop various schemes as part of the county’s Active Travel schemes

“The Tywyn to Aberdyfi cycle path will be included in the council’s programme for 2018/19, with work being carried out to review the existing feasibility study, undertake detailed design of the path, identify and engaging with land owners and undertake environmental surveys along the route.”