Residents "will be consulted over speed limits"

Assembly Member Ken Skates has welcomed Denbighshire County Council’s assurance that residents near Llangollen will be fully consulted over changes to local speed limits.

Mr Skates, the Labour AM for Clwyd South, wrote to the authority’s chief executive Dr Mohammed Mehmet two weeks ago to pass on his constituents’ concerns about proposals to reduce the current 60mph restriction over the Horseshoe Pass.

Mr Skates said: “I have been contacted by several constituents in Pentredwr who are worried about the potential knock-on effects implementing speed restrictions on the Horseshoe Pass, and I have relayed these concerns to the council in writing.

 

“The worry is that a reduction on the new road could lead to even more drivers going down behind the Ponderosa and using Pentredwr as a cut-through.

 

“Too many drivers are already using that route and going dangerously fast on a far narrower and steeper road, which has no footpaths. As well as obvious concerns about increased traffic through Pentredwr, many residents have very real fears that the increased use of the Old Horseshoe Pass could lead to a spike in accidents.”

Dr Mehmet said the A542 was being looked at as part of a county-wide speed limit review of all A and B roads. All local authorities in Wales are required to carry out a similar project before the end of 2014.

He has assured Mr Skates that before any recommendations of the speed limit review can be implemented, the council must first undertake a statutory consultation exercise which will see initial talks with county councillors and North Wales Police.

Only if an agreement is reached at this first stage can the proposals then proceed to public consultation with the community, when formal objections can be lodged.

Mr Skates said: “I’m pleased that Dr Mehmet has assured me he has noted the concerns of residents of Pentredwr and these will be fully considered at the consultation stage referred to. He has also indicated that the introduction of traffic-calming in Pentredwr would be considered should the proposal for the lower speed limit progress.”

Because of current budget constraints, the earliest Denbighshire County Council could begin the consultation is likely to be in February or March.