Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has expressed serious frustration that despite the decision to build two permanent crossings over the North Wales Coast Mainline, the Deganwy crossing will remain closed without any plans for a permanent footbridge.
Network Rail and Transport for Wales have announced plans to jointly develop proposals to close four level crossings along the line, including the installation of a temporary footbridge and, eventually, a permanent accessible footbridge near Pensarn. This will involve closing two footpath crossings, with a similar approach planned for Prestatyn.
However, these plans do not include resolving the ongoing issue of the closure of the footpath crossing on the Llandudno Junction to Llandudno branch line in Deganwy.
The press release issued by Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Transport and North Wales, on 28 August, included the comment:
“Network Rail and Transport for Wales are continuing to engage with stakeholders and the local community on the permanent closure of a footpath crossing on the branch line in Deganwy.”
Commenting on the Deganwy railway crossing Janet said:
“Having campaigned with local residents for over a decade to see the crossing re-opened, the announcement by the Cabinet Secretary that his plans, and those of Transport for Wales and Network Rail, are to permanently close the path is appalling for several reasons.
“One. In 2019 Planning Inspectorate Wales took the decision that there remains a public right of way at the railway crossing at Warren Drive/Glan y Mor Road. Despite Network Rail spending on a professional legal team, we, the community, won the argument.
“Two. On 13 June 2023 the WelTAG stage 1 & 2 report into active travel at the crossing was completed. It recommended progression of a stepped footbridge, in conjunction with complementary measures on the local highway network.
“Three. As of 2 August 2024, Network Rail had not formally responded to the WelTAG report, and I am yet to see the promised reply.
“Bearing in mind that Network Rail introduced the closure by stealth over a decade ago, splashed out on their failed formal legal battle against the community, and that they have already taken over a year to respond to the WelTAG report recommending a stepped footbridge, I am clear in my mind that the organisation has always had it mind set on a permanent closure.
“It seems now that Network Rail are set to have their way, despite the existence of public right of way, a recommendation for a stepped bridge, and clear community support for a solution.
“The biggest insult of all is that community stakeholders and myself have learnt of this plan to permanently close the crossing via a Welsh Government press release. What does that say about Network Rail’s standard of engagement? The evidence from this case is clear, that it is shockingly poor!”
ENDS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, Aelod o Senedd Cymru dros Aberconwy, wedi mynegi rhwystredigaeth ddifrifol, er gwaethaf y penderfyniad i adeiladu dwy groesfan barhaol dros Brif Reilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru, y bydd croesfan Deganwy yn parhau ar gau heb unrhyw gynlluniau ar gyfer pont droed barhaol.
Mae Network Rail a Trafnidiaeth Cymru wedi cyhoeddi cynlluniau i ddatblygu cynigion ar y cyd i gau pedair croesfan reilffordd ar hyd y lein, gan gynnwys gosod pont droed dros dro a, maes o law, pont droed barhaol hygyrch ger Pensarn. Bydd hyn yn golygu cau dwy groesfan llwybr troed, gyda dull tebyg ar y gweill ar gyfer Prestatyn.
Fodd bynnag, nid yw'r cynlluniau hyn yn cynnwys datrys y broblem barhaus o gau'r groesfan ar y llwybr troed ar linell gangen Cyffordd Llandudno i Landudno yn Neganwy.
Roedd y datganiad i'r wasg a gyhoeddwyd gan Ken Skates AS, Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros yr Economi, Trafnidiaeth a Gogledd Cymru, ar 28 Awst, yn cynnwys y sylw:
“Mae Network Rail a Trafnidiaeth Cymru yn parhau i ymgysylltu â rhanddeiliaid a'r gymuned leol ar gau llwybr troed yn barhaol ar y llinell gangen yn Neganwy.”
Wrth sôn am groesfan rheilffordd Deganwy dywedodd Janet:
“Ar ôl ymgyrchu gyda thrigolion lleol am dros ddegawd i ailagor y groesfan, mae'r cyhoeddiad gan Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet bod ei gynlluniau, a chynlluniau Trafnidiaeth Cymru a Network Rail, i gau'r llwybr yn barhaol yn warthus am sawl rheswm.
“Un. Yn 2019 penderfynodd Arolygiaeth Gynllunio Cymru fod hawl tramwy cyhoeddus yn parhau yng nghroesfan y rheilffordd yn Warren Drive/Ffordd Glan y Môr. Er gwaethaf gwariant Network Rail ar dîm cyfreithiol proffesiynol, fe wnaethom ni, y gymuned, ennill y ddadl.
“Dau. Ar 13 Mehefin 2023 cwblhawyd adroddiad cam 1 a 2 Arweiniad ar Arfarnu Trafnidiaeth Cymru (WelTAG) i deithio llesol wrth y groesfan. Argymhellodd yr adroddiad greu pont droed risiog, ar y cyd â mesurau cyflenwol ar y rhwydwaith priffyrdd lleol.
“Tri. Ar 2 Awst 2024, nid oedd Network Rail wedi ymateb yn ffurfiol i adroddiad WelTAG, ac rwy’n dal i ddisgwyl yr ateb a gafodd ei addo.
“O gofio bod Network Rail wedi cyflwyno'r cau yn llechwraidd dros ddegawd yn ôl, wedi gwario ar eu brwydr gyfreithiol ffurfiol aflwyddiannus yn erbyn y gymuned, a'u bod eisoes wedi cymryd dros flwyddyn i ymateb i adroddiad WelTAG yn argymell pont droed risiog, rwy'n argyhoeddedig bod y sefydliad wedi penderfynu cau’r llwybr yn barhaol o’r dechrau.
“Mae'n ymddangos nawr y bydd Network Rail yn cael ei ffordd, er gwaethaf bodolaeth hawl tramwy cyhoeddus, argymhelliad ar gyfer pont risiog, a chefnogaeth gymunedol glir ar gyfer datrysiad.
“Y sarhad mwyaf oll yw bod rhanddeiliaid cymunedol a minnau wedi dysgu am y cynllun hwn i gau'r groesfan yn barhaol trwy ddatganiad i'r wasg gan Lywodraeth Cymru. Beth mae hynny'n ei ddweud am safon ymgysylltu Network Rail? Mae'r dystiolaeth o'r achos yma yn glir, ei bod hi'n echrydus o wael!”
DIWEDD
