PEOPLE are outraged by “ill thought-out” barriers that have replaced disabled parking bays to encourage social distancing.

Residents and business-owners in Pontardawe were furious after Neath Port Talbot Council installed concrete bollards over disabled parking spaces in Herbert Street on Tuesday, August 11 .

Business owner Kelly Frost said the council’s actions were “a war against disabled people and local businesses”.

Ms Frost, who runs Frosty’s Green Grocers on Herbert Street with her family, said the bollards are “unfair” and will deter shoppers from visiting Pontardawe.

Council leader Rob Jones said the council decided to install the concrete barriers along Herbert Street as a temporary measure to encourage social distancing.

He said the council had previously installed plastic barriers after the Welsh Government allowed non-essential businesses to reopen on the 22 nd June but they were “frequently being moved by members of the public”.

According to Cllr Jones, senior council workers visited Pontardawe with a local councillor and representative of the Pontardawe Chamber of Trade to inspect how the plastic barriers were being used on Friday, August 7.

“While on the visit those present witnessed one driver pulling up and attempting to kick the barriers out of place rather than look for an available parking space elsewhere,” he said.

“We spoke to traders on the side of the road who were operational at the time and were experiencing queues, and they supported the continued use of barriers to manage safe queues.

“They also indicated their frustration at the constant removal of the barriers by third parties and confirmed that they on occasion have had to reinstate them. 

“There was a reliance on council staff having to go back to put them back in place. This was not sustainable on a daily basis given the restricted resources available.”

Pontardawe resident Leanne said the bollards will limit the number of elderly and disabled shoppers visiting the town.

She said an elderly family member in his seventies had a fall while walking along Herbert Street on Wednesday August 12.

According to Leanne, he had to park further down the street because the concrete barriers had replaced the disabled bays that he usually uses.

“He has literally been the first casualty, within the first week, of those ridiculously, ill-thought out bollards,” she said.

“The sheer amount of people who are now avoiding Herbert Street is astonishing. 

“The village has a wonderful mix of shops which the older generation still frequent so it’s sad to see they’re being dismissed. 

“This will have such a huge impact on the independent shops which have worked so hard to build up from scratch in our little community.”

Ms Frost said her business takings have “taken a hit” since the plastic bollards were installed and “will continue to take a hit” because of the concrete bollards.

Her brother Michael Frost, who also owns the business, said: “Our profits got cut down by half so from a business point of view it affects us.

“But what we are most concerned about is there are disabled bays now that have got huge concrete bollards put in place.

“We just think it’s unfair because people can’t use the bays now and therefore will refrain from coming down to Ponty in the first place.”

Ms Frost said: “None of it makes sense. We weren’t notified about it.

“We came into work to see all the work men outside.

“We have no voice, council workers do not understand what Ponty is like. 

“People with deliveries are going to struggle on this street now also.”

Cllr Jones said: “All other parking bays and loading bays will remain available for their intended purpose and any plastic barriers in these areas have either been, or will be removed.”

He added: “In addition to the barriers and in response to concerns from traders, we have also proposed to stencil on the pavement showing people where to queue safely.”