Residents could finally get better access to train station that's bears village's name
While it bears the name of Dolgarrog - the Conwy Valley station has never really been particularly accessible to people in the village. The station is situated on the opposite side of the Afon Conwy from Dolgarrog with a rough and sometimes boggy track also in the way.
This contributed to it serving just 612 passengers in 2017/18 - the lowest of any station in Wales that year. The situation was compounded in 2021 when the pipe bridge over the river closed to the public due to concerns over its condition. There were fears it would never reopen.
But a campaign was launched, backed by Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders and others, to get a crossing back. This eventually secured funding of £1.2m from Dwr Cymru and a £735,000 Welsh Government grant for Conwy County Borough Council to restore the bridge.
READ MORE: Desperate attempts were made to save campervan swamped by sea at Gwynedd beach
READ MORE: When will A55 Conwy Tunnels reopen after devastating fire
This was reopened in 2023 and passenger numbers rose to just over 2,000 in 2023/24. But the paths from the village mean it's still not exactly a convenient option for locals or tourists wanting to use the Conwy Valley Line.
Now though Conwy council has secured additional Welsh Government active travel funds for improvements to the existing Public Rights of Way, which connects Dolgarrog Railway Station to the B5106. The works are to be undertaken this financial year.
The Local Authority is currently working on access agreements with interested landowners and will be aiming to undertake a public engagement exercise soon. Once the access agreements are in place, they will push forward with a procurement and construction phase programme.
This would improve the path that emerges near the former Lord Newborough pub on the B5106.
There are hopes that more money in the future could develop a link to Clark Street, which comes out in the centre of the village.
MS Janet Finch-Saunders said: "Since the horrendous decision by Welsh Water to permanently close Dolgarrog Bridge, I have been pleased to lead the group of stakeholders who have succeeded to convince the water company to make a massive U-turn, and secure a £1.9m investment.
'As part of that stakeholder group it was a pleasure to work with representatives of both Dolgarrog Community Council and Conwy County Borough Council. By working together we have delivered for our community.
"In fact, I have kept up the pressure and am delighted that funding has been secured to build an active travel route between Dolgarrog and the railway station this financial year. A special thanks goes to the Local Authority officials who submitted the application and are working on the plans going forward.
'Whilst my understanding is that this phase of the development will see the route reach Dolgarrog by the old Lord Newborough pub, there remains and ambition to develop a route along Clark Street in the future, but that would require further funding.
'The most import point of all is that the bridge, which following our united community campaign, Welsh Water has thankfully invested significantly in, will now have high standard accessible paths leading to it. This is excellent news." Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Landslip-hit Pembrokeshire coastal path reopens after months of work
A landslip-hit section of the Wales Coastal Path in Pembrokeshire has re-opened after its latest months of work. The path between Coppet Hall, Saundersfoot and Wisemans Bridge, which includes an under-cliff tunnel, has been plagued by landslips since late 2023 and most recently closed since the end of February 2025. Earlier this year, it was stated that £700,000 had already been spent by Pembrokeshire County Council on repairs. Cliff stabilisation work at the landslip-hit site. (Image: Gareth Davies Photography) At the time of the February closure, the authority predicted that the work would take around four months, and has now shared the news on Facebook that the path has re-opened. The post stated: "Some great news to bring you this afternoon – the popular coastal footpath between Coppet Hall and Wiseman's Bridge has re-opened – just in time for the lovely weather! "Thanks to everyone for their patience while the important safety work was carried out over the last few months following a series of landslides. "Thanks also to the council teams and contractors who have worked tirelessly to open the pathway. The popular path features the 'long tunnel' between Coppet Hall and Wisemans Bridge. (Image: Pembrokeshire County Council) Hundreds of locals and visitors have welcomed the path's re-opening. Said one Saundersfoot resident: 'It makes a huge difference to our community.' Another commented: 'Delighted to be able to use it again'. And there was also gratitude for the extensive work which has been carried out, with one person posting: 'Thank you to all those who made it safe for us.'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
'World's most difficult jigsaw puzzle': Archaeologists piece together thousands of shattered fresco blocks from ancient Roman villa
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Archaeologists in London have painstakingly pieced together thousands of fragments of an ancient Roman fresco that has not been seen for 1,800 years. "It was like assembling the world's most difficult jigsaw puzzle," Han Li, a senior building material specialist at the Museum of London Archaeology, said in a statement. After three months of hard work, the fresco (a painting on plaster) from Roman Britain was back in its original arrangement. It reveals intricate depictions of birds, fruit, flowers and lyres, as well as ancient graffiti and a link to its artist. The shattered plaster pieces were discovered in 2021 in a large pit in the Southwark district of London during redevelopment of the site, according to the BBC. The fresco adorned 20 walls of a building constructed between A.D. 43 and 150. The excavation team blames the destruction of the villa, which happened within 157 years of its construction, for the dilapidated state of the painting. Li was nervous and excited to start the assembly process. "Many of the fragments were very delicate and pieces from different walls had been jumbled together," he said. Related: Rare fresco discovered in Pompeii shows type of woman who 'breaks free from male order to dance freely, go hunting and eat raw meat in the mountains' The art served to demonstrate the wealth and taste of the villa's inhabitants. The painters of the masterpiece seem to have been inspired by aesthetics far across the area of Roman influence, emulating designs from what are now Germany and France, according to the statement. Parts of the fresco display a pattern of rectangular panels, which was common for the period, but the yellow color of the pattern is rare. The Greek alphabet is etched into the plaster as ancient graffiti. Similar findings in Italy point to the alphabet as a checklist or tally, and the quality of the writing suggests the graffiti artist was an experienced writer, the statement reported. The fragments also contain a hint about the fresco's artists. The Latin word "fecit" — which means "has made this" — is identifiable and framed by a decorative carving that Romans used when signing artwork. Much to Li's chagrin, though, the plaster is broken in the spot where a signature would be, so the artists remain a mystery. RELATED STORIES —Ancient fresco of mythical Narcissus found in Pompeii —Gladiators fought in Roman Britain, action-packed cremation urn carvings reveal —Ancient Romans sacrificed birds to the goddess Isis, burnt bones in Pompeii reveal Li also found faintly drawn painter's guidelines that are visible only under certain light. Faint sketches of a flower within a circle can be recognized, but "the painters likely changed their mind and chose not to paint it," Li said in the statement. Many questions about the fresco remain unanswered, including the purpose of the Roman-era building it decorated. But it could have been a commercial property, "perhaps relating to the storage or distribution of storage jars and vessels, brought to London by ship from the wider Roman Empire," the statement reported.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Crying eight-week-old otter found near river
A crying eight-week-old baby otter abandoned by a river was "growing stronger every day" following his rescue, a charity said. UK Wild Otter Trust said a passerby found Scratch crying by the River Fynn near Ipswich, weighing 0.5kg (1.1lb) on 26 May. When one of the rescuers scooped up the cub, he was scratched in the process, which gave the inspiration for the otter's name. Dave Webb, the charity's founder, said: "Scratch was cold, hungry, and confused, but he was also a fighter!" The cub was spotted by walkers when he was heard crying from afar and was in a distressed state. Originally, the members of the public left him there in case his mother came back, but later they returned to rescue him. He was then passed over to the UK Wild Otter Trust. Mr Webb said: "With warmth, food, and round-the-clock care, he's already growing stronger every day." The charity said Scratch has now tripled in weight with a tailored rehabilitation plan, and it was hoped he would be returned to the wild. Scratch was the eighth otter rescue the charity had made this year. Otters are protected by law, and it is illegal to hunt, trap or disturb them, according to the UK Wild Otter Trust. In recent years, new threats have emerged affecting otters, including road traffic accidents, habitat destruction, being captured in fishing nets and increased use of pesticides in farming. Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. 'We've been rescuing and rehoming cats for 100 years' Rare otter filmed swimming in town centre park Dog rescued from underground pipe by firefighters
