Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts and newly elected Senedd Members Beca Brown and Elwyn Vaughan have jointly invited the newly appointed Welsh Government Deputy Minister for Transport and Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy to visit Llanbedr to engage directly with the community and assess the long-discussed case for a bypass or relief road.
They have written to the ministers highlighting the persistent challenges faced by residents and businesses in Llanbedr, and the potential economic benefits that a relief road could unlock for the wider area including at Llanbedr Airfield.
At the centre of the issue is the A496, a key north–south route linking communities along the west coast of Gwynedd, including Barmouth and Harlech. This route runs directly through Llanbedr village and is heavily used by local traffic, tourists, and freight, particularly during peak holiday periods.
Residents have consistently voiced concerns over heavy traffic passing through the village, with reports of congestion during peak periods, safety concerns for pedestrians, and environmental impacts such as noise and air pollution.
Liz Saville Roberts MP, Beca Brown MS, and Elwyn Vaughan MS said:
The people of Llanbedr have shown remarkable patience over a prolonged period. Concerns around traffic congestion, road safety, and the impact on daily life have been ignored by previous governments, and with a new Plaid Cymru government, we have an opportunity to renew the case for action. Llanbedr sits in a strategically important part of Gwynedd, with significant opportunities for economic growth, including tourism and local enterprise. However, the current transport constraints continue to act as a barrier. A bypass or relief road could play a key role in unlocking that potential, while also improving the quality of life for residents. We are inviting both the Transport and Economy Ministers to visit Llanbedr to meet residents, businesses, and community representatives directly. This new government has committed to explore ways to improve traffic management in Llanbedr and Barmouth. This visit would provide an opportunity to speak to residents and to explore how progressing a bypass scheme could support both local wellbeing and regional economic objectives including maximising the potential at Llanbedr Airfield. This is not just a transport issue - it is an economic, environmental, and community issue.
Harlech and Llanbedr Gwynedd Councillor Gwynfor Owen said:
I welcome support from the Member of Parliament and local Senedd Members following my invitation to the Deputy Minister for Transport and Cabinet Minister for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy to come to Llanbedr to see for themselves the problems that exist in the Village and to engage with the Llanbedr community.