A PEACEFUL protest has been organised by campaigners hoping to resurrect the Llanbedr bypass scheme.
The protest will take place on Saturday, 27 August, and organisers would like as many people as possible to attend.
It has been organised by residents of the village who are angry that their long-awaited bypass scheme has been shelved by the Welsh Government. The decision to scrap the bypass was announced in November 2021. On 1 November, during the COP26 Summit in Glasgow, Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters MS, announced the cancellation of the bypass.
He stated then that the bypass scheme “does not align well with new Welsh Government transport and climate policy, and advises that it is not taken forward”.
Llanbedr community group, POBL, has been campaigning to reverse the Welsh Government’s decision ever since.
Group member Jane Taylor told the Cambrian News about the upcoming protest.
She said: “We are having a peaceful protest on 27 August on the bridge in Llanbedr (11am to 4pm). There is a seating area so we are not obstructing the flow of traffic.
“We have banners and we are asking the village community to turn up during the day just to voice their concerns.
“I am supplying cake and coffee as I’m sure the weather will have turned by then.
“We are also going to count the amount of traffic that will pass on that day.”
Jane added: “I have notified the community council, Transport for Wales, Mabon ap Gwynfor, our local county councillors and North Wales Police.
“The constant traffic jams - gridlocks - have been bedlam in the village.
“Local residents are having to get out of their homes or cars to direct traffic.
“The road rage has been unbelievable with constant shouting and swearing.
“The residents who live on the streets can’t even open their windows due to the pollution, and the shouting.
“Llanbedr residents have had enough and are totally fed up.
“The elderly feel that they are prisoners in their own homes as it is too dangerous to walk to the village shop.
“One holidaymaker asked us the other day “How on earth do you put up with it all?” and we honestly could not answer. We have come to the end of our tether.”
A petition calling on the government to reconsider the bypass scheme was signed by 2,704 people.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The threat from climate change demands we take a different approach to transport. Gwynedd Council have declared a climate emergency and we remain committed to working with them to develop sustainable solutions to address the issues surrounding traffic in the village that are in line with our ambitious targets to tackle the climate emergency.”