A MUCH-DISPUTED path in front of the houses on the Mawddach Estuary is to be made a public right of way following a shock decision by Gwynedd Council’s planning committee.

A crowd of approximately 30 residents turned up to watch the debate with the majority in favour of enforcing a footpath at Mawddach Crescent, near Arthog.

The application for a public footpath had been recommended for refusal in a report put before the planning committee on Monday, 25 June but a unanimous vote by members went against the recommendation and added the footpath to the council’s definitive list.

Residents of Mawddach Crescent had argued that walkers are treading across their front garden, but campaigners claim they have been using the scenic path without obstruction for decades, ever since a tramway ran along the estuary in the very early part of the 20th century.

Huw Roberts, who submitted the application, was delighted with the result after travelling down from Scarborough to view the proceedings.

“The decision was a victory for truth,” the former Arthog resident told the Cambrian News.

“The committee was very clear that the residents had not tried to stop the public from walking the path until recent years.

“The local Gwynedd councillor Louise Hughes spoke of her sadness at the bitter feelings that had been generated by the [Mawddach Crescent] residents’ actions. The Mawddach Crescent owners would go a long way to heal the damage caused by accepting the council’s decision and moving quickly to remove the barriers and the ‘no entry’ signs which have caused the most offence.”

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “The legal process to publish a modification order will now be followed so that the route can be registered on the Definitive Map of Public footpaths.”