Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, has said that Machynlleth residents do not want a by-pass to accompany any new bridge development across the River Dyfi.
The comments came following a recent letter sent by the South Meirionnydd Older People’s Forum to the National Assembly’s Petitions Committee, stating that any new bridge must be “positioned where a by-pass can be planned and built with economic viability.”
The rationale put forward by the Forum for this radical option was that any new crossing was not just to avoid incidents of flooding but to also effect a ‘speedy route’ around the town at peak times.
However, the local AM has spoken out against such a move, citing that it would ‘go against the wishes’ of local residents.
Commenting, Mr George said:
“While I understand the reasons behind this call, I have to say that an associated by-pass scheme to be developed in conjunction with a new bridge crossing is something neither local residents nor the wider community of Machynlleth have asked for or want.
“The Welsh Government has conducted a survey and I don’t believe this option was raised and in the local residents survey that I have done on future transport proposals, I have not had one response who thinks a by-pass is a warranted or viable future option.
“The initial petition dated February 2011 was not calling for a by-pass but a new, safer crossing over the River Dyfi. A by-pass was never part of the petition and although many people would have signed this petition, they would not have signed it on the basis of a by-pass.
“I have written to the Minister for Transport as the local AM, to ask her to rule out this option and to reassure her of the local view.”
