One story, three reports

Report A — The Llanbedr Chronicle, Thursday 14 March

Old Bridge to shut for eight weeks as council orders repairs

By Nia Hopkin, local democracy reporter. Published 14 March, 06:00. Updated 14 March, 11:20.

The Grade II listed Old Bridge over the Afon Wen will close to vehicles from Monday 25 March for an estimated eight weeks, Bryn Hir Council confirmed yesterday.

An inspection carried out in January found cracking in two of the bridge's four arches. The council's highways report, published on its website on 12 March, rates the structure as "safe for pedestrians but requiring load restriction". Repairs are costed at £1.4m, of which £900,000 comes from a Welsh Government transport grant.

A signed diversion will add roughly 4km to journeys between Llanbedr-ar-Fryn and Pentre Isaf. The bridge will stay open to people on foot and on bicycles throughout.

Councillor Dafydd Rees, cabinet member for highways, said: "Nobody wants an eight-week closure in spring, but the alternative is a weight limit that would keep the school bus off the bridge permanently."

Traders disagree about the impact. Sioned Pugh, who runs the bakery on Heol y Bont, said takings could fall by "a third at least". Two other businesses contacted by the Chronicle said they expected little change.

The council has published the inspection report, a diversion map and a consultation form. Comments close on 21 March.

Report B — "Llanbedr Voice" (a campaign website)

THEY ARE CLOSING OUR BRIDGE AND NOBODY ASKED YOU

Posted by Admin. No date shown.

Wake up, Llanbedr. The council has decided — in secret, behind closed doors — to shut the Old Bridge for MONTHS. Some say it will never reopen at all.

Local people are furious. One resident told us: "This will destroy the high street." Another said the council "has always hated this town".

Up to 80% of local businesses could be forced to close. Traffic on the diversion will be up to FOUR TIMES worse. And where is the money going? Nobody will tell us.

The council refused to comment.

SHARE THIS BEFORE IT GETS TAKEN DOWN. Every share is a vote against them.

Report C — a post on a regional news aggregator

Welsh town cut in half as historic bridge collapses

Posted 15 March, 21:47, by NewsWalesDaily. 12,000 shares.

A historic bridge in west Wales has been closed after it began to collapse, leaving a town "cut in half", according to reports.

Photograph caption: "The Old Bridge yesterday." (The picture used is a stock photograph of a bridge in Yorkshire, taken in 2016. A reverse image search returns it within seconds.)

Repairs are expected to cost £14m and take up to two years. Residents will face a 40km detour.

The story has been shared thousands of times. A spokesperson for the council was not available.

Sources: "local reports".

Checkable facts, for comparison

• Bryn Hir Council's published inspection report is dated 12 March and gives the closure as eight weeks, the cost as £1.4m and the diversion as 4km.
• The bridge is cracked. It has not collapsed. It stays open to pedestrians and cyclists.
• Councillor Dafydd Rees gave a quotation to the Chronicle on 13 March, so "refused to comment" and "not available" are both untrue by the time Reports B and C were posted.
• The consultation form closes on 21 March, so "nobody asked you" is checkable and wrong.
• Report C's figures (£14m, two years, 40km) are each exactly ten times the published ones.