P-06-1356 Introduce comprehensive safety measures at the A477 'Fingerpost' junction - Correspondence from Interested Third Party to Committee, 17.10.23

Dear Mr Sargeant

I have been given your email address by Samuel Kurtz as I wrote to him asking if I could forward the video to you that the Motorcycle Action Group representative did for me whilst I have been campaigning for a safer junction after the latest fatality on May 13th. I will forward it under separate cover as I am not terribly confident on a computer. This was simply a video taken once over a few minutes at this tricky, confusing junction. Can I point out that both vehicles that nip across from the left (Pembroke Dock direction) - the Fiat 500 and possibly a Kia/Hyundai type of vehicle both SHOULD HAVE GIVEN Way as it is the right of way for the vehicles pulling out from the A4075 across the Trunk Road carriageway. However this hardly ever happens in the correct manner - it ends up being a free-for all scrabble when the Main Road becomes clear - hence all the accidents and fatalities that have occurred here. I have a business in Pembroke and used to use this junction twice a day. The traffic coming from Pembroke direction backs up as the trunk road is so busy until someone gets impatient and shoots across in front of the traffic on the trunk road - which can be legally driving down that road at 60mph. As you can see from the video sometimes they just pull out straight in front of oncoming vehicles that sometimes have to attempt an emergency stop. This has resulted in so many accidents at the junction - most do not appear to be recorded - as unless the Police are involved there appears to be no database. Also of course 4 fatalities that I know of over the years. 2 fatalities in the past 12 years since the so called improvements!! Just one of the awful injuries was a man having to be air lifted to hospital a few years ago who was unable to walk for 12 months and unable to walk unaided for 5 years. Please note the sort of 'holding pen' in the middle of the road ends up with traffic coming from Pembroke stacked up side by side - sometimes up to 6 vehicles squashed in side by side and squeezed behind each other trying to pull out to join the traffic heading East towards Carew. This holding pen is not a bad thing as before traffic ended up being stuck out in the carriageway however it is not used properly and too many people try to get into it making visibility to pull out to head towards Carew very difficult. I think impatience just takes over as people want to get on their way. Half of the fatalities have been motorcyclists because they are so much more vulnerable when a vehicle pulls out - they do not have the protection of a metal cage around them.

Can I also point out Mr Sargeant that this junction is the only junction used by all the refinery tankers, it is used by many workers at the Power Station and the refinery and also is the only junction used by all the Military traffic and personnel going to Castlemartin Range. Also it will shortly become even busier when the multi million pound Council backed Visitor Centre opens in Pembroke as it is the main junction used by tourists.

I hope this gives you some background information that you will need to make your decision. Incidentally the 10,001 signatures were achieved in 36 days showing the strength of feeling from the local community and visitors.

With kindest regards

Dear Mr Sargeant

Incidentally I meant to mention that I am not affiliated to any Political party - I got involved in all this because 12 years ago when the Nash Fingerpost junction was 'improved- I contacted the Highways and Transport office to say it was still incredibly dangerous and confusing and there would be more fatalities.

Sadly I did not pursue a safer junction then and sadly I was proved correct. Ashley Rogers who lost his life at the Junction on May 13th 2023 was a family friend (our daughters first ever boyfriend) - they weren't together anymore but as a family we have stayed in touch with Ashley and his family. He was due to be married 3 weeks after he was killed and he left behind an 18 month old son.

So my passion for forging ahead with the Petition and all the meetings I have had with the Powers- that- be stems from the fact that I know this junction needs to be made safer - preferably with a roundabout as per Carew and Sageston.

Thank you for your time in reading my emails.