Residents welcome speeding crackdown

Residents in a Dee Valley village blighted by speeding have welcomed a crackdown on irresponsible drivers.

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates contacted Wrexham Council and North Wales Police last summer and urged them to do anything they could to improve road safety outside Pontfadog school and throughout the wider community, including Dolywern.

Chief Constable Mark Polin promised action would be taken, and safety vans were immediately deployed in the area. They have since been seen regularly and were spotted again near the school last week.

Labour AM Mr Skates was initially contacted by constituent Gayle Watkin regarding speeding and dangerous driving on the B4500.

Mrs Watkin, who has coordinated the local campaign to improve road safety, said: “Speed vans have been deployed a lot more often and personally I think there has been a slight reduction in the amount of vehicles tearing through the village, but there's still work to do.”

Dolywern resident Jools Payne said: “It's really good to see that Ken is using his powers of persuasion and influence to help protect the community.

“Positive action like getting speed cameras regularly monitoring motorists in the valley will, I hope, deter the numpties who think they can flout the law and drive like idiots through our villages. Well done Ken – good job.”

Mr Skates said: “Mrs Watkin asked for my support as residents have had concerns over road safety for years without anything really being done. I’d like to thank North Wales Police to their swift response and commitment to cracking down on this problem.

“However, the area cannot be policed all the time. Drivers need to take responsibility for their actions. How would they feel if it was their community motorists were screeching through and their children’s school people were speeding past?”

Mr Skates said he has written to Wrexham Council again to pursue permanent traffic-calming measures after previously requesting a reduced speed limit through Pontfadog, flashing signs, speed bumps and a barrier outside the school.

He added: “The authority was recently given a huge reprieve worth millions of pounds from the Welsh Labour Government, and it would be great to see some of that money invested in making our communities and roads safer.”