Following a campaign by Clwyd West AM Darren Millar and local councillors, the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure has this week confirmed road safety improvements on the A494 in Denbighshire.
Darren, along with Denbighshire Councillors Martyn Holland and Huw Williams, has long been urging the Welsh Government to review highway safety between Llanbedr DC and Loggerheads following a number of serious accidents.
He was therefore pleased in July to receive a letter of response from the Welsh Transport Secretary, Ken Skates AM, stating that “appropriate improvement measures are being considered”.
In the Assembly Chamber this week, the Cabinet Secretary confirmed measures that are being taken after Darren questioned him on the matter.
Speaking in the Senedd, Darren said:
“One of the accident black spots in my constituency is the A494 trunk road, particularly in the area between Loggerheads and the Clwyd Gate area near Llanbedr DC. I was very grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for making his officials available for a site meeting along that stretch of the road in late October, and also for the follow-up correspondence that was sent by the Cabinet Secretary following that meeting. Can you tell me the timescales for the improvements that your letter set out, and what further action might be taken to reduce the speed of traffic, in particular, on this busy road?”
In his reply, the Cabinet Secretary said that he is “determined to make sure that the road is improved in terms of safety” and that with regards the A494 section at Llanbedr DC “draft traffic orders will be published at the beginning of December”.
With regard to the A494 at Loggerheads approaching he said the amber lights attached to the warning signs on the approaches to the Colomendy centre have been repaired, and vehicle-activated signs will be installed in this financial year.
Mr Skates also confirmed that no overtaking lines were being considered around the Clwyd Gate area.
Commenting on his response, Darren said:
“I am pleased that as a result of the meeting I held with Martyn Holland and Welsh Government representatives, a number of road safety improvements are to be made in Loggerheads, Llanbedr DC and in the Clwyd Gate area.
“The locality, which has a steep gradient and many bends, has been the scene of a number of injury accidents in recent years and many near misses, so it is a great relief to know that at last something is being done to make it safer.”
Denbighshire County Councillor for Llanarmon-yn-Iâl and Llandegla, Martyn Holland, said:
“I very much welcome this news. Darren, Huw and myself have long been calling for safety measures on this stretch, so I am therefore extremely pleased that our wishes will soon be a reality.”
Denbighshire County Councillor for Llanbedr, Huw Williams, said:
“I am pleased that the concerns we have been raising are at last being addressed and that many of the road issues we have pressed for are finally being introduced.”