Pwllheli footbridge closed after fire

Cyngor Gwynedd has closed a popular footbridge in Pwllheli following concerns about a deliberate fire.

A substantial part of the footbridge that connects Lôn Cob Bach and Pont Solomon in Pwllheli was burnt on Wednesday evening, 23 October 2024, with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service called to attend. Due to concern about the safety of the structure, the Council has temporarily closed the path.

Gerwyn Jones, Assistant Head of Cyngor Gwynedd’s Environment Department said:

“This footbridge in Pwllheli is extremely popular with local residents and offers an opportunity to enjoy the environment and nature just a stone's throw from the town centre.

“Whilst there has been vandalism to part of the bridge over the years, following recent repair work, we have seen substantial use in recent times.

“It is therefore very concerning, that the structure has had to be closed temporarily after this fire, and it is really upsetting to see the damage that has been caused.

“In addition to the inconvenience of having to close the bridge temporarily, there will be significant costs to the Council in order to repair the structure - at a time when funding is tight, this is an unnecessary expense.

“It is disappointing that the behaviour of a very small minority is ruining the enjoyment of the bridge for others. We urge those responsible to respect public property and to think about the impact of their behaviour on the local community, and anyone with information about the incident should contact North Wales Police.”

The incident has been reported to North Wales Police. If anyone has information about this incident, they should contact North Wales Police at 101 or visit www.northwales.police.uk, quoting incident number Q160764.