FINAL plans for a multi-million-pound cycle path between Llandudno Junction and Betws-y-Coed are set to be agreed upon by councillors – and construction could start next year.
Conwy County Council has secured over £18m in UK Government funding to create the cycle path, as well as new measures to improve travel routes during flooding.
While the bid for the UK Government’s Levelling-up Fund was successful, other bids to improve Parc Eirias Stadium in Colwyn Bay and Llandudno’s M&S store and Venue Cymru failed.
The successful bid, the Coast to Valley Transport Bid Conwy County, comprises three separate schemes investing in what the council calls a ‘Coast to Valley Active Travel Route’, helping to improve transport connections in the Conwy Valley.
The route for the Glan Conwy to Llandudno Junction scheme will link the two communities by a shared-use walking and cycling path with onward connections to Conwy Town and Llandudno.
The consultation on a shortlist of options starts this week, with one option being a route via a bridge over the railway and a path through Conwy’s RSPB reserve.
The scheme will form the northernmost section of the Coast to Valley Active Travel Route.
At the southern end of the Coast to Valley is the second leg, linking Llanrwst to Betws-y-Coed.
This scheme could feature an improved river crossing for walking and cycling at Betws-y-Coed.
The existing footbridge at this location, known as Sappers’ Bridge, is currently closed on safety grounds.
Like the scheme to the north, the council says this project will help open up the southern section of the Coast to Valley route.
The third scheme, Trefriw Resilient Roads, is a project that will provide a flood-resilient route in and out of the village.
Options being looked at include raising road levels, flood defences, and improved drainage.
Cllr Charlie McCoubrey, leader of Conwy County Council, was excited about the bid.
“We’re delighted that our transport bid has been successful, although of course we’re disappointed that the other two projects were not,” he said.
“I’d like to thank all those involved in preparing and submitting the bids for their hard work within very tight deadlines, and we look forward to receiving more detail about the offer, which will be presented to councillors for consideration.”
A spokeswoman for Conwy County Council added: “Once we’ve received the detailed information about the funding offer from UK Government, it will be presented to councillors for consideration.
“Then it’ll be a matter of working on design, planning, consultation, and procurement over the next 12 months or so, with construction work provisionally scheduled for 2024/25.”
