There is optimism that an unsafe road on a North Wales beauty spot which has been closed for months will re-open soon. A stretch of Marine Drive on Llandudno's Great Orme was shut by Conwy Council in September as the authority decided it was unsafe due to excavation works at a neighbouring property.
It is understood a resident's preparatory work on land for an extension in the garden of the large property has gone awry leading to the unexpected closure of the adjacent Marine Drive between the Rest & Be Thankful pub and West Shore. Residents worry they are being inconvenienced and tourists cannot drive all the way around the Orme.
This weekend the route of Conwy Half Marathon will also snake around the Great Orme and alongside red and white barriers currently sealing off part of the road. A narrow passage is alongside the barriers for pedestrians and cyclists to walk their bikes along which it is presumed the runners will have to use.
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Resident Dean Anwyl lives down the hill from the barriers near West Shore. He said: "I feel sorry for the residents living above the barriers. The council should force something to be done."
He has heard the situation may take "six months" to resolve but believes it should be sooner. He also pointed out it is the Conwy Half Marathon this Sunday, with this part of the route around the Great Orme still closed to vehicles due to these excavations. "What if there's an accident?" added Mr Anwyl.
![A stretch of Marine Drive on Llandudno's Great Orme has been closed for several months with the road deemed unsafe due to excavations in a neighbouring property.](https://i2-prod.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/article28112535.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_DPP_DPW_151123OrmeMarine_4JPG.jpg)
Conwy County Borough Cllr Louise Emery, who lives in the area, accepts residents' journeys have been disrupted. She said takings at the toll house near Llandudno Pier and on the land train have been hit.
She also revealed residents even set up a WhatsApp group. But she said there are grounds for optimism.
"It's been awful for the residents. It feels like a long time for residents to wait." But she said the effect of the excavations could have been "catastrophic" and that's why it was deemed unsafe.
"A garden room is being built and the excavations are quite deep. The residents (who are carrying out the work) have apologised and are doing what they can to rectify the situation."
She believes the builders digging pilings for foundations may have dug near Marine Drive but repairs started last week. She added: "The council will be making sure that all the work done from now on does not impact on the road.
"Building inspectors will be visiting regularly. I am optimistic it will be open before Christmas."
It is understood the situation is being complicated by the fact the excavations are on private land.
A council spokesperson said: "The closure is required for public safety because of excavation work next to the road that has compromised its structural integrity. We have conducted assessments of the site to establish the extent of the problem and been able to allow pedestrian/cyclist access.
"We have worked with the neighbouring landowner to provide a solution and work is currently underway to rectify the situation. The road will remain closed until this work is completed and checked. We anticipate that this will take several weeks."
* Conwy Half Marathon starts on Sunday at 9.30am in Conwy. Entrants run alongside the River Conwy and into Deganwy, West Shore and the Great Orme.
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