Councillor calls for action as town faces traffic gridlock

 * Traffic queuing in both directions along Regent Street around 3.30pm today.

A town councillor is calling on national roads bosses to "get their act together" to manage major traffic congestion in Llangollen.

Earlier today the roadworks on the A5 just out of town, which are due to last 33 weeks, caused gridlock along Regent Street as heavy Friday afternoon traffic queued in both directions to negotiate the temporary lights set up just after the Birch Hill junction.

At one stage around 3.30pm vehicles lining up in Castle Street to turn left onto the A5 missed two or three changes of the lights as they were unable to move freely out into the flow on the trunk road.

Later a police officer was seen speaking to a person connected with the roadworks.

Town councillor Stuart Davies said in a statement to llanblogger: "The perfect storm is happening here and now, something I warned about weeks ago. 

"Llangollen is being gridlocked as the work on the eastern end of the A5 is carried out.

"Police were spotted actually having to do some traffic control, something not usually seen today."

He added: "Things were at a a standstill today in Llangollen as the works traffic management failed to cope with the density of traffic as the UK public tasted a little bit of post-lockdown freedom.

"The North and Mid Wales Traffic Agency (NMWTRA), who will have commissioned the works, are responsible.

"More thought should have been given to the volume of traffic using the A5 after the Covid lockdown. 

"Better ways of managing the traffic flow or timing should have and should be considered.

"When the Denbighshire County Council (DCC) works in Castle Street start, as I have said before, with the A5 works, overnight A483 closures and single lane working in Castle Street the perfect storm is going to get worse.

"I am calling on NMWTRA officers to get their act together and work with DCC and North Wales Police to solve this problem.

"I am also calling on our elected representatives at county level to do bring pressure to bear to address this situation."