The Goat Roundabout

THE GOAT ROUNDABOUT – A DEATH ZONE?

The Welsh Government’s continued refusal to include a safe crossing for those using Lon Eifion at the Goat Roundabout in Llanwnda, the start of the Bontnewydd bypass, has been branded as ‘criminal’. Last year protesters called for a bridge to safeguard the many local people and visitors who as pedestrians or cyclists benefit from Lon Eifion, a former railway line now turned into a multi user route. After all, the new bypass, with protected crossings for otters and bats, should surely not force pedestrians and cyclists to cross two busy main roads.

However, in August the Welsh Government bypass proposals said that the Lon Eifion cycleway would be diverted around the Goat Roundabout, crossing the proposed de trunked A487 (Caernarfon road) and the exiting southern arm of the A487 (trunk road).

Drivers who may have been travelling at 60mph on the road from Porthmadog, or who are accelerating out of the roundabout, will have to contend with adults and children trying to walk or cycle across the road in front of them, one the A487 trunk road to Fishguard, the other ‘just’ the A road to Caernarfon!

At 12.30pm on Friday 16 September Hywel Williams MP and Sian Gwenllian AM will be at the Goat Roundabout in Llanwnda to meet objectors to the plans. If you share our concerns about safety we would welcome your presence on Friday. The Goat roundabout is at the junction of the A487 and the A499 road to Pwllheli. Grid ref. SH 473 577 There is plenty of parking at Inigo Jones, 1.5 mile south on either Lon Eifion or the A487.

There are public exhibitions about the bypass, including the Goat roundabout, at the Celtic Royal Hotel in Caernarfon on 20 & 21 September and the Meifod Hotel in Bontnewydd on 22 and 23 September.

Ramblers Cymru, Caernarfon & Dwyfor Group Cycling UK, Eryri Group