An MP has criticised Conwy County Council officers, claiming their reluctance to attend a public meeting to discuss a one-way system on Rhos-on-Sea’s West Promenade is unacceptable.

David Jones MP organised a public meeting so residents could question council officers about plans to bring in the one-way system for traffic travelling from Rhos to Colwyn Bay.

A council report has predicted a 778 per cent increase in traffic on the Cayley Promenade, the road which runs above the embankment and parallel to the lower West Promenade, if the proposals get planning permission. The Cayley Promenade will remain two-way.

But many residents oppose the plans and fear lorries and buses using the Cayley Promenade will rev their engines to change gear whilst travelling uphill, causing noise and air pollution.

Consequently, Clwyd-West MP David Jones scheduled a public meeting at the Methodist Church Hall. But the MP says the proposed meeting was cancelled as council officers refused to attend to discuss the matter in case they were met by angry residents.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Service today, Mr Jones said the meeting was going ahead with cabinet member for the environment and transportation Cllr Greg Robbins attending – until council officers intervened.

“If the council are actually promoting the project as a good proposal, it’s not unreasonable to expect council officers and councillors to justify it,” said Mr Jones.

“Cllr Greg Robbins was entirely happy to come to such a meeting, and it was only when it was passed on to officers that he came back with the letter (and refused).

“Quite clearly there has been some intervention from officers that stopped Greg doing what he wanted to do beforehand. I don’t think it’s unreasonable that when there is a major proposal that will affect a lot of people in a particular area that the responsible councillors and council officers, people with the necessary expertise, should turn up and answer questions.”

He added: “It’s part of local democracy. It’s important the people should be able to justify their decisions, and it seems to me they don’t want to engage with members of the public, who ultimately fund the council through their own council tax. This is completely unacceptable.”

Cllr Greg Robbins was contacted for a comment.

A spokeswoman for Conwy County Council commented: “Residents have already taken the opportunity to give feedback on the plans through the public consultation in 2021 before we submitted a planning application. We are now in the formal planning process which includes further consultation – residents have another opportunity to provide comments on the scheme through this process.

“The project team are committed to working with concerned residents or other stakeholders, to make reasonable modifications to the design which improve the project, without prejudicing the wider benefits of the scheme.”