Assembly: Traffic problems no worse

Newtown’s traffic problems are no worse now than they were before controversial traffic lights were installed last year.

 

The astonishing claim has been printed in a letter to a campaigner urging fellow Newtown residents to vote ‘no’ in a March 3 referendum on extending the law-making powers of the Welsh Assembly Government.

 

The claim was made by Mr. Andy Cochran in a reply to fed-up Mr Philip Glynn (right), who had written to the Mid Wales Roads Network Manager expressing the concerns which, he says, represent a majority of the town.

 

Mr Glynn said motorists face ‘horrendous’ problems caused by the lights every day and said they were an example of how the Welsh Assembly was ‘distant’ from the area by not listening to the concerns of the town. There is also a petition calling for a solution to the town’s problems which has more than 4,000 signatures, and concern has also been voiced by local MP Glyn Davies.

 

A route has been earmarked as a by-pass around the town which now faces a nervous wait to see whether it will be included in the Assembly’s spring budget.

 

But, Mr Cochran’s reply certainly won’t be filling residents’ hearts with optimism as he told Mr Glynn that the traffic signal scheme was installed to “allow for development within the town while essentially not making traffic conditions any worse and not to cure the town’s congestion problems”.

 

He added: “From our discussions with residents of Newtown and the area, on site observations and review of the CCTV footage, the signal system is generally working well. I would agree that extensive queuing can occur at peak times, but this has always been the case.

 

“We do consider that the scheme is operating as intended and as a result, a number of minor amendments are considered beneficial, such as changes to the traffic island on the southbound approach to the Kerry Road signals. We will now assess the settings of the five sets of traffic signals to ensure that they are operating as effectively as possible.

 

“There have been some problems with the operation of the pedestrian crossing phases on some of the junctions. These have been rectified, but we will continue to monitor the situation.

 

“We continue to investigate different scenarios to ease the traffic within the town and the operation of the traffic lights is checked to ensure they are working at maximum efficiency. Technical aspects of any other signalling option will also be considered.

 

“We believe that to reinstate a roundabout at the Kerry Road junction would cause capacity problems and would mean the remaining sets of traffic lights either side of the roundabout could not operate effectively or efficiently.”

 

The response has disappointed Mr Glynn who said: “Let’s be honest, the Welsh Assembly has no intention of changing anything connected with the lights. They are simply not listening.”