Llandybie council ‘will pay’ assessment bill for pedestrian crossing (From South Wales Guardian)

Llandybie council ‘will pay’ assessment bill for pedestrian crossing

4:30pm Thursday 5th July 2012 in News

LLANDYBIE community councillors are trying to fast track moves to install a pedestrian crossing at Llandybie Square.

They are prepared to foot a £2,000-£3,000 bill for a traffic assessment, on learning that the South Wales Trunk Road Agency had no funds.

Technical officer Brian James said such a move could bring the project forward by two years, but stressed there was no guarantee SWTRA would agree to a crossing.

Having heard that the last assessment was made in 2007, Cllr Bryan Rees felt it was worthwhile: “That survey was carried out five years ago: the increase in traffic has been tremendous since then.”

The council also agreed to a suggestion by Cllr Nigel Evans to press for an assessment at Capel Hendre Square.

“I’m thinking specifically of parents walking children to Saron Primary School from the Lotwen Road side,” he said. “It seems to be a big issue for people living on that big newestate and a lot of kids use that route.”

County councillor Peter Cooper said a previous assessment had concluded traffic lights at the square were “a complete non-starter”.

County councillor Alun Davies, who said he had an imminent meeting with trafficmanager JohnMcEvoy, felt the dangers had increased unnecessarily: “They put these developments there and don’t think about mothers and children crossing the square.”

Cllr Nigel Evans said he had been “shocked” by the speed of vehicles travelling past the Tilyrychen Farm site at Dyffryn Road and the number of young families walking along the highway was “terrifying”.

He added: “I say we look at Capel Hendre Square again because it’s going to be a bee in my bonnet during my term of office.”