The Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates AM, has agreed to review safety on a dangerous stretch of road in rural in Denbighshire following calls by Clwyd West AM Darren Millar.
At the end of May, Darren wrote to the Cabinet Secretary urging him to review highway safety on the A494 in and around Llanbedr DC.
Responding to Mr Millar this month, Mr Skates said that although a Trunk Road Safety Review determined that current speed limits from Clwyd Gate to Llanbedr Dyffryn Clwyd should be retained, “in view of recent collisions and subsequent concerns raised, my officials have prioritised a preliminary study to consider the safety and alignment on this stretch of road.”
Darren, who following a serious accident involving a local teenager, Nia Jones, earlier this year, launched a petition calling on the Welsh Government to take action to address local concerns, said:
“I am delighted that the Cabinet Minister has taken on board the concerns I raised with him and agreed to review the speed limit on this stretch.
“As I told him in my letter, 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.
“I also highlighted the fact that the locality receives a high number of visitors due to being located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, many of whom are unfamiliar with the road and terrain which increases risks in the area.”
Darren added:
“Many of my constituents are concerned that unless speed limit reductions are introduced, and sharp bends on the highway are reengineered lives may be lost in the future, and I share these concerns.
“The Cabinet Secretary has assured me that the study will be carried out this financial year and I will be pushing to ensure that it is.”
Picture Caption: Clwyd West AM Darren Millar with accident victim Nia Jones and Denbighshire County Councillors Huw Williams and Martyn Holland on the A494 by the Clwyd Gate near Ruthin.