HUNDREDS have signed a petition against the pedestrianisation of Eldon Square in Dolgellau.

The petition was started after town councillor and deputy mayor Ywain Myfyr suggested restrictions on buses using the square. He said that Dolgellau could become a “tourist goldmine” if it adopted a “European-style town square”.

The petition has been available to sign at several shops in Eldon Square. And Eirlys Roberts, of JP and Sons, who started the petition, said she was encouraged by the “few hundred” signatures that had already been gathered.

In response to the petition, Cllr Myfyr has clarified he only wants to pedestrianise a portion of the square, as opposed to the entire area, but welcomes different opinions on the matter.

Mrs Roberts was adamant, however.

“We don’t want it. I think it would kill Dolgellau off, personally. A lot of older people in particular would go elsewhere to do their shopping if they were unable to get into the square,” she said.

Mrs Roberts acknowledged that Eldon Square had some problems, such as instances of cars waiting in the square and causing congestion, but was against a major overhaul, saying that buses had stopped in the square as long as she could remember.

Cllr Myfyr believes his opinions had been misinterpreted at a recent council meeting.

“I called for the buses to be moved from the square so the area of the bus stop could be used as a pedestrian area for cafes, etc, to bring a more continental feel to the town.

“Pedestrianisation of the whole square is a non-starter."

Read the full story in today’s Meirionnydd edition of the Cambrian News