THE POTENTIAL closure of Barmouth Bridge footpath has been discussed at the Senedd in Cardiff.

Mid and West Wales AM Joyce Watson is calling on Network Rail and Gwynedd Council to “get it together” to keep open pedestrian access to Barmouth Bridge (pictured).

The footbridge is owned by Network Rail, which charges Gwynedd Council a 10 per cent annual maintenance fee, currently £30,800, in exchange for a licence to use the bridge.

Now Gwynedd Council is consulting the public on whether to save money by closing the “spectacular” Victorian viaduct to walkers and cyclists. So far 42,000 people have signed a petition calling on the council to drop the plan.

In a letter to Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne, the Labour AM wrote: “I am writing to you today to ask if Network Rail would consider waiving this charge, or reducing it, so that the risk to local residents and visitors of losing access to this popular route is removed.”

Speaking in the Senedd on Wednesday, 21 October, Mrs Watson, a keen walker and photographer, suggested closing the bridge would hit tourism and called on transport and economy minister Edwina Hart to help find a solution.

In response, minister Hart replied: “I think we all recognise the importance of the facility to communities and tourists alike. However, Gwynedd is including this in a list of possible cost savings that it is consulting on in the autumn, and I wouldn’t want to pre-empt the public consultation, but as soon as I am aware of the outcome, it might then be appropriate for me to approach Network Rail.”