A TOWN council has confirmed there will be 'no further debate' following concerns relating to the public's right to roam on land around Gwrych Castle.

During an ordinary meeting of the Abergele Town Council on March 4, it was resolved more communication was required from a trust and other bodies when it came to land around the castle.

The issue was discussed after restrictions in place on roads and paths, caused unrest amongst the public and after two emails, from the Friends of Cefn y Ogaf, were received.

Cllr Alan Hunter, mayor of Abergele, said: "At the April meeting, a letter from the Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust to the town council and a copy of a letter from the trust to the Friends of Cefn y Ogaf were received.

"There was no further debate as the council has agreed in March to write to the trust and we have had a reply and from our letter written dialogue with the trust and the friends has started.

"The letter from the trust to Abergele Town Council also offered an invitation to myself as mayor to attend any future meetings which l have accepted."

Earlier this year spokesperson from the castle said: "We opened the gardens to the public in 2014 and then the castle itself in 2018. Prior to this the entire estate was closed to the public so we enabled access around the restored sections of the castle. We want to have regulated public access given that the castle and grounds are under restoration.

"The entire estate includes Manorafan Farm, Abergele Golf Club and the surrounding farmland, including the woodland which is leased to NRW and have been since 1951.

"We will continue to engage with interested parties.

"It’s been a very difficult period for all businesses in Abergele who are all still in tier four lockdown.

"We’re very much looking forward to welcoming back visitors to Gwrych Castle once we’re able to do so."

The castle also confirmed Natural Resources Wales’s position and said there has been “no change to land ownership or boundaries”.

“Gwrych Castle is privately owned estate and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) - legacy forestry commission Wales - has a long-term lease over areas of the woodland within the estate since 1951," the spokesperson said.

“There is no dedicated open access, public rights of way or permissive paths within the NRW lease land.

“NRW and Gwrych Castle Trust are working together to manage the castle and surrounding woodland and to improve public access for visitors to the castle."