P-03-240 Road safety on the A40 in Llanddewi Velfrey - Correspondence from the petitioner to the Chair, 24.05.2013

William Powell AM

Chairman of Petitions Committee

Welsh Government

Cardiff Bay

CF99 1NA

24^th May  2013

Dear Mr Powell

Ref: Petition P-03-240 safety improvements to A40 in Llanddewi Velfrey

We have been pleased to hear that there has been some acknowledgement of problems in Llanddewi Velfrey and that money has been allocated in 2013-14 to begin improvements. The minister has promised improved signage and ‘gateway enhancements’ that we hope will be linked to rigorous enforcement of the speed limits to ensure they are effective. Further clarification of these ‘gateway enhancements’ would also be useful.  

We welcome these first moves and thank the Petitions Committee for their continued support while remaining convinced that additional measures are still required to safeguard local residents i.e. improvements to inadequate pavements and  crossing.  As previously stated  traffic surveys show that the average speed of vehicles passing through the village is on, or just below the speed limit. This will understandably lead decision makers to conclude there is very little problem.  However in making the calculations it is normal practice to remove the top 15% giving a totally unrealistic picture. So if we are told that the average speed is 39mph then 15% of vehicles are travelling above the  limit. This is surely unsafe and unacceptable.

We realise that in these difficult times and with the prospect of a by-pass in the near future, it may be difficult to justify significant expense. To safeguard pedestrians we either need wider pavements or slower traffic. The promised measures will hopefully go some way towards reducing the danger but we are convinced that they are a first step in the right direction and   that further action should still remain a consideration.

Yours sincerely

Lynda Hill

Clerk to Llanddewi Velfrey Community Council