Update - June 2018
Barmouth Viaduct Access Group
Welcomes
Cabinet Minister Ken Skates AM
Barmouth Viaduct Access Group welcomed Cabinet Minister Ken Skates AM to the town's pretty harbourside last week as part of a visit to enable the Welsh Assembly's Economy and Transport Minister to find out more about the ambitious project to provide a safe traffic free link between the town and Wales' iconic Barmouth Bridge.
Looking across from the harbour, Town Councillor Jamie Brooks described to the Minister the proposed route that would extend Barmouth's Harbourside and provide a cycle and pedestrian access sitting just above the shoreline and winding around the entrance to the Mawddach Estuary. Mr Brooks pointed out that the route would give a new access for disabled people to get to the bridge and that as well as providing a vital missing link on national cycle and walking routes it would provide a quality traffic free link for commuters between Fairbourne and Barmouth.
Mr Skates who was in Barmouth alongside a senior officer from the Welsh Government's Active Travel programme walked out the hazardous road journey along the A496 as it twists between a narrow gorge where pedestrians, cyclists and buses vie for space on a busy stretch of road between the town and the start of the footpath across Barmouth Bridge. He took time to look at the proposed plans for the route and told the group he was impressed that local volunteers had developed the scheme to this stage. He also indicated that he could see that the bridge and proposed access are not just important for the local economy and safety, but also about providing a piece of infrastructure that is important to the whole of Wales. He went on to point out that the Welsh Assembly is making an additional £60 million available for councils to bid for on schemes that enable road journeys to be replaced by walking and cycling journeys. "Of course the programme of schemes that are bid for and prioritised in this area is quite properly a matter for Gwynedd Council" he explained.
Gwynedd Councillor Gethin Williams is also a member of BVAG. He stated that he would have no hesitation in advising Gwynedd Council to give this scheme high priority. He added "I think that the scheme has now got to the stage where it is a real possibility and I would like to see Gwynedd Council putting in place a project manager to take it forward. Barmouth is a gateway to Snowdonia and our scheme would deliver a traffic free link for whole area from Penmaenpool to Arthog"
Following the visit BVAG member Graham Hogg who had invited the Cabinet Minister told the Cambrian News that he felt the visit had been a huge success. "I know that Mr Skates was extremely impressed by what he saw and he also sees the real potential for this scheme as something that will really improve our economy and environment. The whole BVAG team now feels that this project has a real future and is deliverable"
Picture above includes from left to right: BVAG Committee members John Puddle, Graham Hogg, Cllr. Gethin Williams and Cllr. Jamie Brooks with Ken Skates AM
Update - April 2018
Guest Book
As the Guest Book facility had only received 6 entries in the last 2½ years, and with us facing a potential increase in cost to continue with the facility, and our Facebook and Twitter accounts seeing more activity, the B-VAG web team have decided to close the Guest Book.
We have retained all comments and these are available to read by following the link on our Project Introduction page.
Update - April 2018
FJD Consulting
B-VAG have commissioned FJD Consulting to carry out the first 2 phases of a long term Design and Construction Plan.
These phases are:
1)Concept Design and Options Review: The purpose of which is to assess a number of potential options before developing a preliminary design for the preferred option.
2)Stakeholder Liaison: The term 'stakeholder' refers to anyone that has an interest in a project and can influence or is
influenced by its success. It is important to identify stakeholders in a project as early as possible.
The commissioning of this work has been supported by a grant from Barmouth Town Council.
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