CARMARTHENSHIRE county council is playing Russian roulette with the lives of children using Llandybie Primary School.

That is the claim of Llandybie community councillor Meirion Bowen who maintains the entrance to the school, off the main Llandeilo trunk road, is “an accident waiting to happen”.

But county councillor Anthony Jones has refuted his remarks, saying the road had been assessed by health and safety officers who deemed it a safe access to the 212-pupil school.

While acknowledging difficulties existed, Cllr Jones - the school chair of governors - maintained everything that could be done was being done.

The two men clashed after Cllr Bowen said he was angry at the apparent lack of progress over an issue which had troubled parents for a dozen years.

“We have spent so much time discussing this,” said Cllr Bowen, who added he was raising the issue as “a concerned parent and former school governor” rather than as a councillor.

“The then director of education said six years ago that the Llandybie School entrance was one of the most dangerous he had ever seen.

“As things stand, we only have one way going into the school. You are playing Russian roulette with the lives of little children going into school.”

Community council members agreed to again raise their concerns with the county council.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Bowen said he was frustrated that a secondary access road built by the developer of a nearby housing estate had been sealed off to school traffic. “That road should have been completed before any house was built,” he added.

“The then director of education put money forward for a car park behind the canteen of the school,” he said. “Why are we still waiting?”

Cllr Jones told the Guardian work was being carried out on yellow lines and the nearby roundabout while traffic enforcement officers would ensure a turning area was kept free from traffic.

“I agree we are going through a difficult period but when parking and a drop-off area are provided at a nearby housing development the traffic congestion we are experiencing will ease,” he said.

“Until then it’s a case of everyone having to use their judgement and commonsense.”