Local politicians have spoken of their anger at A decision by Welsh Government to scrap Llanbedr bypass.

Council leader Dyfrig Siencyn said he was "furious", while Llanbedr councillor, Annwen Hughes said she was "shocked" to hear the "devastating news".

MP Liz Saville Roberts said she was "disappointed" and MS Mabon ap Gwynfor described the move as "a kick in the teeth".

Lee Waters MS, deputy minister for climate change said the bypass scheme "does not align well with new Welsh Government transport and climate policy, and advises that it is not taken forward".

He added: "I have accepted the chair’s recommendations and Welsh Government will not support any further work on the current Llanbedr Access Road scheme.

"However, I am committed to providing funding for the development and implementation of an alternative package of measures to address the negative impact of traffic in Llanbedr and in other villages on the A496, whilst also encouraging modal shift and reducing CO2 emissions. The package can also consider access requirements to the airfield to support associated developments. I have asked my officials to work with Gwynedd Council to commission Transport for Wales to develop an alternative package for consideration, in line with the chair’s recommendations. Any Welsh Government funding for this package will be via the Local Transport Fund and subject to the usual application process."

Council leader Dyfrig Siencyn said: “I am furious with today’s announcement by Welsh Government based on a report which shows a complete lack of understanding of a rural situation in terms of road usage or the desperate need for jobs of high quality in one of the areas with the lowest household incomes. It is clear that once again rural areas can be sacrificed on the altar of climate change where the real problem and the answers lie in our urban areas.

“This is a crushing blow to our hopes and aspirations for the people of Meirionnydd. Despite fine words by ministers who represent urban areas, they have no understanding and no empathy with the problems facing our rural communities and clearly have no desire to improve the lives of people who live and work here.

“The potential increase in carbon emissions form the new road scheme fade into insignificance when compared to the emissions and pollution suffered by the residents of Llanbedr over the summer months, when hundreds of vehicles are at a standstill in the village.

“Moreover it seems that rural areas are now to be consigned into economic deserts and empty communities for the pleasure of those who travel here regardless of their carbon emissions.

“We are not to have an infrastructure fit for the 21st century and we must be satisfied with a peasant subsistence whilst those in our cities and urban areas can benefit from an efficient public transport system, and ready access to jobs and public services.

“I invite the authors of this report to come and live in Meirionnydd so that they can experience the reality of life here. They should come and meet us to explain how they reached their flawed conclusions. I despair that we are once more to suffer from a short sighted urban attitude which has scant regard for the well being of rural communities.

“I will continue to fight on in the face of this decision and will continue to press the case with Ministers for a substantial change in attitude."

Llanbedr councillor, Annwen Hughes said: “I am shocked to hear this devastating news today. I feel that the community of Llanbedr and the surrounding area have been led up the garden path by the Welsh Government.

“Our discussions with the Welsh Government in recent months were positive. Our hopes had been raised that Llanbedr by-pass would be delivered, but today those hopes have been dashed. It is a bitter blow.

“Where does this now leave our community? Where does this leave our economy? What affect will this have on the Welsh Government’s own Llanbedr Airfield site, and the potential there to create jobs for local people?

“This feels like a bitter betrayal from our own Government in Cardiff. Their concerns regarding the climate should also relate to concerns about our community’s health, well-being and future prospects.

“We will continue to oppose this decision and push Ministers to re-look at this issue.”

Mabon ap Gwynfor said: “This announcement is a real kick in the teeth for Llanbedr and for all of the coastal communities.

“The decision not to develop the link road was based solely on environmental reasons, with no weight or concern at all for community health, personal and mental wellbeing, and the wider environmental impacts.