CYCLISTS in Porthmadog can enjoy a new, safer route through town after a 10-year campaign to re-route a bike path finally came to fruition.

Planning permission has been granted to build a new path linking the Cob with a footpath leading to Cob Crwn, diverting cyclists away from a dangerous “bottleneck”.

The new route will run behind the tax office building and is expected to help prevent accidents involving motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.

Porthmadog councillor Jason Humphreys was delighted the project was taking place after years of campaigning.

“The cycling path along the Cob is especially popular with families and other leisurely cyclists and is part of the National Cycle Network,” he said.

“It has long been officially acknowledged that the ‘bottleneck’ at the Porthmadog end of the route is dangerous with these cyclists ether coming into conflict with busy traffic or with pedestrians along the narrow Britannia Terrace pavement, particularly during the summer."

He added: "I’m delighted at the fact that a revised plan which involves lower costs was approved by the council’s planning department last week. I’ve been told that the plan will be ’shovel ready’ by April and that Gwynedd are very optimistic that a grant application to the Assembly’s Local Transport Fund will be successful."

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