CARDIGAN Town Council have re-affirmed their opposition to a businessman’s controversial suggestion to make the old Teifi Bridge pedestrianised and introduce a one-way traffic system along Tenby Road.

The idea was floated in March by Mr James Lynch who is currently locked in a dispute with the town council over a riverside right of way.

The 60-year-old entrepreneur behind Piza Tipi insists the path on the opposite side of the River Teifi has fallen into disuse and wants public access blocked.

Mr Lynch, who is establishing The Albion, a 23-room hotel celebrating Cardigan’s maritime heritage at the location, told the council he would then be ‘more inclined’ to allow a public access across the site from the nearby pedestrian bridge.

But he received a shower of criticism after suggesting ‘getting rid’ of the existing pedestrian bridge, closing the old town bridge to traffic and re-routing all St Dogmaels and westbound traffic via Cardigan By-pass and the Ridgeway Roundabout, along with all town-bound traffic approaching from the south.

Mr Lynch added that he regarded the failure to establish a large car park on the Jewson site as 'a lost opportunity'.

Now local resident Vincent Wright has written to the town council urging them not to heed Mr Lynch's ideas.

Mr Wright said he was denied access to the riverside path by contractors who assured him its closure was a temporary move for health and safety reasons.

“It is important that this path is kept,” he added. “Demolishing the existing footbridge and pedestrianising Old Bridge would be a waste of money and increase traffic going up Tenby Road.

“I hope that (Mr Lynch’s) self-serving idea does not see the light of day.”

In his original letter to the council, Mr Lynch claimed access to the footpath was limited.

“(It’s) either used by tourists who think that there is a path to St Dogs and then have to immediately turn around or by youngsters hanging around and getting up to minor mischief,” he added.

“We have also had issues with loud groups drinking and fishing from the wharf in front of the Granary, disturbing guests and leaving rubbish behind and when challenged (mistakenly) citing a public right of access.

“I don’t want further public access that could lead to more mistaken assumptions and aggravation, particularly once the hotel is fully functioning.”