P-06-1299 Welsh Government 'Freeze on road building" to include a clause for cases that pose a danger to life, Correspondence – Petitioner to Committee, 30.05.22

Firstly, I would like to thank Joel James MS and the committee for taking our petition and concerns seriously and for the committee in contacting RCTCBC for a response.

Councillor Andrew Morgan is of course, right about diverting traffic through unsuitable side streets as it is the only alternative when accidents accidents/incidents occur (which there are many) but on the stretch of road from the top of North Road Ferndale to Maerdy Square,  there are no side streets to divert through. It's a complete standstill.

The list below outlines, the benefits of an alternative route would make from Tylorstown to the top of the Rhondda Fach and outlines the risks we continually face by not having one:

1) Emergency services attending call outs and risk to life

2) Less traffic travelling on roads that were not built for today's vehicles.

3) Buses and lorries not mounting pavements in Maerdy, Ferndale and Tylorstown, due to the roads not being fit for purpose.

4) Jobs. Easier access for commuting - takes 1.5 hrs travel to Pontypridd from Maerdy on public transport

5) Reduction in pollution.

6) Speed restrictions on our roads, more likely to be adhered to.

7) Safer school routes for our children

8) Small businesses would benefit as parking would be more accessible.

9) Maerdy mountain closures:

repairs, accidents including overturned lorries - which occurred again last week, closing Maerdy Mountain for 11 hours with traffic diverting to Llanwanno from Cynon to Rhondda Fach and vise versa, causing chaos in Blaenllechau and Ferndale.

10) Reduction in traffic where the new Welsh language school is being built in Ferndale.

There will be an increase of buses and cars during school runs (an accident - one of many - occurred at the time RCTCBC held their public consultation)

Thank you again

Kind Regards

Sue Blaney