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Villagers 'cut off' from north Wales beauty spot

Dale Spridgeon
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Getty Images An aerial view of a village, with houses and fields. There are mountains in the background and a stoney beach and sea in front.Getty Images
Fairbourne beach previously hit headlines over fears it would be "abandoned to the sea"

Villagers say they are effectively "cut off" from a north Wales beauty spot after an access ramp was destroyed.

Fairbourne beach in Gwynedd hit the headlines amid fears it would be "abandoned to the sea" when sea defences are no longer maintained in the 2050s.

But it has now become inaccessible to many a lot sooner - a concrete ramp was damaged in a storm several years ago, and it was condemned as "unsafe" for use.

Now Cyngor Gwynedd councillor Louise Hughes is drumming up support to build a new access point.

Ms Hughes is now hoping that someone could help the Fairbourne community get back to using the treasured spot.

"Sadly, when a concrete access became damaged some years ago it was eventually deemed unsafe for people to use," she said.

"The area affords stunning sea and mountain views and is an ideal location for waters-sports, especially windsurfing, surfing and sailing, and its an ideal bucket and spade kind of beach for families."

Getty Images Second World War anti tanks defences block on the seaside of the village of Fairbourne, on Wales' northwest coast. Getty Images
After a concrete ramp was damaged in a storm several years ago, it was condemned as "unsafe" for use

The beach is also filled with history and has anti-tank obstacles built during World War II with a view to halting a Nazi invasion.

The famous "Dragon's Teeth" – concrete blocks were designed as tank traps to stop Hitler's forces dead in their tracks.

Ms Hughes said: "Over the years there have been attempts to grade the shingle bank to encourage access but it's all been to no avail.

"I knew one old lady in her 90s who used to go on that beach all her life, and she was very upset in her twilight years not to be able to get down there due to the access problem.

"It is just a shame for locals to have this fabulous golden asset right on their doorstep but not to be able to use it," she said.

She recently raised the matter during a meeting of the Barmouth Harbour Consultative Committee, telling members it was "a crying shame" that something could not be done about the beach.