The Welsh Government has abandoned proposals that would have seen Aberystwyth’s Great Darkgate Street pedestrianised and a bypass provided for Llanbadarn Fawr, the Cambrian News can reveal.

Local councillors say Aberystwyth and Llanbadarn Fawr residents have been let down by the Welsh Government, which says it has other priorities.

The decision to remove the two schemes from the transport plan has been labelled as a huge blow to the area and residents affected by heavy traffic.

Ceredigion County Council had backed both schemes saying it would help stop large volumes of traffic, including large lorries, from travelling through the town centre and through Llanbadarn Fawr, but neither scheme will now happen in the short term.

Aberystwyth councillor Ceredig Davies said that, while the Welsh Government had pushed ahead with bypass schemes in numerous other areas, Aberystwyth and Llanbadarn Fawr were missing out.

He said: “Over the last decade the Welsh Government has carried out numerous road improvements and created bypasses for a number of congested communities.

“It is therefore disappointing that plans to detrunk Aberystwyth’s town centre streets and the construction of a Llanbadarn Fawr bypass have been shelved.

“If vehicles, particularly heavy goods vehicles, are only passing through the town they need to be kept out of the town centre, something recognised this week with a report on the impact on people’s health due to toxic vehicle fumes.

“On the matter of pedestrianisation, my personal view is that it should only be considered with caution, as many retail centres have regretted going down that route.”

See this week’s Aberystwyth paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now