A bridge on a stretch of a popular coastal path in Wales has been repeatedly vandalised to the point where it is no longer safe to use, locals have warned. The bridge is located in the Bynea area of Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, near the start of the Millennium Coastal Path which spans around 13 miles towards Pembrey further west.
Over the past year or so, vandalism has affected the wooden bridge, which sits above a grassy bank overlooking the estuary, an area which can become boggy and flooded during periods of high tide and heavy rainfall. You can keep up to date with the latest Carmarthenshire news by signing up to the local newsletter here.
It’s becoming a concern for local people who live near and like to use the path, with the vandalism potentially causing a danger for walkers or especially young children or animals. “It’s been in a bad way for about a year now,” said Richard Watts who lives in Bynea.
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“It’s quite a long bridge and people have been vandalising it to the point where there’s a lot of worry and concern about it in the area. I think there’s a bit of concern about safety on the path anyway after a man was assaulted just last week (in nearby Penclacwydd Uchaf, you can read more about that here ).
"The vandalism just adds to that. Locals have reported it to the council and told them that it’s unsafe, and they’ve put temporary barriers in place but they’re yet to fix it properly due to them not having the right materials, they’ve said.”
The wooden bridge seems to have been damaged by people kicking or smashing through the safety panels along both sides, leaving a potentially hazardous drop on either side. According to pictures taken from the bridge, there are pieces of wood which have been broken off and are left lying on the grass. “It’s a bit of a drop as well,” said Mr Watts. “And water underneath there can rise quickly when the tide is in and it rains a lot. We’ve reported the issue a few times but nothing seems to be happening.
“Lots of people here are complaining about the state of the path, and it’s disappointing to see it that way. It’s a beautiful place but as soon as you see the bridge the way it looks now you just think to yourself - what a shame. It’s been vandalised over a period of months and because there’s no cameras or any surveillance it’s hard to know what’s going on.”
Carmarthenshire Council has said that work is underway to permanently fix the bridge and anyone who witnesses any further vandalism or damage is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police by calling 101.
