Soon to be “free”, and soon to be demolished

Built in 1867 this Grade 2 listed bridge carries a single track road and the Cambrian coast railway line over the beautiful Dwyryd estuary in Snowdonia. The 50p toll for unlimited crossings in a day is good value considering the alternative is an 8 mile drive.

The bridge is currently (2012) owned by Network Rail, Gwynedd Council and a private individual, who has the right to charge tolls. Next year the Welsh Assembly plans a new bridge with a better railway track, a dual carriage road and a cycle lane. They will demolish the old one and remove the tolls. The European Union will pay, because this part of Wales counts as an underdeveloped region. I guess there’s votes in removing tolls, and in faster trains and cars, so long as someone else pays.  Am I the only person who thinks it is a tragedy?

Jim Thornton