A POPULAR Pwllheli boardwalk which had to be closed off after an arson attack is back open to the public.
“Mindless” vandals caused “£10k worth of damage” after setting a fire along the route, which connects Lôn Cob Bach and Pont Solomon.
Now, it is back open again after repairs were made by Cyngor Gwynedd.
A large area along the wooden bridge was torched on the evening of Wednesday, October 23, 2024.
“Significant damage” was caused to parts of the wooden structure, meaning that it was not safe for the public to use and it was closed off.
Pwllheli’s mayor Councillor Mike Parry had previously slammed the damage as an act of “mindless vandalism”.
Cllr Parry also said the crime required a level of “sympathy not criticism for the offender or offenders” who he said must “sadly have problems and clearly need help”.
At the time, Gerwyn Jones, assistant head of Cyngor Gwynedd’s environment department, said the damage had been “upsetting” for locals as the route was “extremely popular”.
The pathway offered “an opportunity to enjoy the environment and nature, just a stone’s throw from the town centre,” he said.
It had also been “disappointing” that the behaviour of a very small minority was “ruining the enjoyment of the bridge for others,” he added.
He had also urged those responsible to “respect public property and to think about the impact of their behaviour on the local community”.
The council says it is now “pleased” to report that the footbridge has been able to re-open before the end of the year.
The reopening of the route, the council says, has been made possible thanks to support from the Gwynedd Nature Partnership.
The council is now urging the public to report any damage or vandalism to North Wales Police.
