CONCERNS have been raised over the amount of traffic near to the entrance of the I'm A Celeb castle.

Gwrych Castle, near Abergele, has been proving a very popular with visitors since it hosted the 20th series of ITV's I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!

However, a surge in visitors has resulted in 'gridlock' near the large stone arch off Tan-Y-Gopa Road.

This acts as the main entrance to the castle but also leads to Manorafon farm park attraction and the campsite.

One resident, who asked not to be named, and lives near the castle, said the turning on to Tan-Y-Gopa Road had become "dangerous" and he had been involved in three "near-miss" crashes.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm pleased so many visitors are coming to the castle," he said.

"But it is dangerous now that turning. There is so much traffic there, cars trying to turn into the road leading to the castle. There is definitely a safety concern."

Gwrych Castle is hosting I'm A Celeb this year. 

It is closing to visitors, ahead of the show, on September 5. 

Darren Millar, MS for Clwyd West, said: "I have been contacted by a number of residents expressing concern regarding the traffic accessing Gwrych Castle.

"Obviously, no one could have anticipated the visitor interest that the Castle would receive following last year’s ‘I’m a Celebrity’ and it’s been an incredibly busy year for many attractions across North Wales so it should come as no surprise that there is extra traffic accessing the site.

"There are times when it can be very busy and I have seen congestion myself around the Tan-Y-Gopa Road and Market Street junction when visitors are turning into the main Castle gates.

"Part of the problem is the track that leads to the castle grounds, which isn’t in the best of conditions and is very narrow in places which doesn’t allow the traffic to flow as freely as it could.

"I understand that the track is due to be upgraded over the autumn so this should help to alleviate matters."

Manorafon farm has also been 'thriving' despite periods of closure during the pandemic. 

Mr Millar has written to Conwy County Borough Council to ask the highways team to take a look at the problem and see whether some improvements can be made to the area around the junction to resolve the problem.

A spokesperson from Conwy County Borough Council said: "We are aware of concerns raised by local residents.

"We will be working closely with the Gwrych Castle Trust, the TV production company and North Wales Police between now and the start of filming on site in the autumn to manage traffic in the area."

A source from the castle said: "ITV are going to be upgrading the driveway as a legacy driveway. The driveway [leading up to the castle] is owned by Manorafon Farm and Abergele Golf Club

"It is important to note the flood alleviation scheme for the Eldon Drive area."

[In March, the Welsh Government said it was providing £36million to Local Authorities and Natural Resources Wales to help them invest in new defences, maintenance works and natural flood management schemes. The Eldon Drive scheme was included].