Madam,

Regarding the article in last week’s Cambrian News over the proposed new Dyfi bridge. Notwithstanding the seeming contradictory comments by Machynlleth councillor Gareth Jones, he is totally missing the point. The purpose of the new bridge is not to force vehicles to drive through Machynlleth, it is to improve the dreadful north-south coastal route.

I doubt there is anywhere in Europe where a government would spend £24.5m on a new bridge and road improvement scheme and take the route to an area that is a known flooding blackspot or through the middle of a congested town. To contemplate both defies any logical sense.

I make no secret of the fact I want to improve the route we in Tywyn and the surrounding villages have to take south to access hospital services in Aberystwyth. I also want to improve transport links to attract new companies to invest here, but not at the expense of Machynlleth which incidentally I think is one of the most historic, iconic towns in Wales.

I fully understand the concerns of councillors and businesses in Machynlleth about economic decline. However, we have to have the vision to plan for the next 100 years or more and do what is best for the vast majority of people living in mid Wales.

With all what we now know about climate change, that indicates flooding will be an increasing problem in the future, the proposed route under the old railway bridge is bonkers. It has to go over the railway line. I will be urging the Welsh Government to look at this again as there are better alternative routes to benefit everyone.

Cllr Mike Stevens, Pier Road, Tywyn.