Crai is a small village divided in two by the A4067 which
currently has a speed limit of 60mph. The crossroads for Crai,
turning right and left is on a long straight section, and it is not
unusual for vehicles to be doing 70mph + at this junction.
The church and village hall are on the west side and this requires
residents to cross the road to attend functions.
All residents many senior and young children need to negotiate this road to use public transport, of vital importance to rural communities.
Senior members of the village who are no longer able to drive report feeling anxious that they are unable to cross safely with the speed of the traffic.
When driving, turning left or right is dangerous due to the
speed of the traffic approaching from behind and in front. On
occasions residents report driving on because it is not safe to be
stationary in the middle of the road.
They also report being overtaken and undertaken at the junction
using the bus pull in.
Crai is a farming community and there are occasions when livestock,
wild deer and one occasion a bull, have been on the road.Farmers
have complained of visitors leaving gates open and livestock
wandering on to the road. This is likely to become more of a
problem due to increasing numbers of tourist. (A deer was killed in
the Autumn 2024).
Other National Parks (New Forest), reduce this risk by having a blanket speed limit of 40mph.
Crai is in the heart of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park an area with a predicted significant increase in the number of visitors and therefore vehicles.
The National Park states that their aim is to promote enjoyment of the parks, citing clean air, carbon reduction with people and nature working together. It is unclear how this may be achievable when increasing number of motorists are travelling at high speeds through the Park and specifically the village of Crai.
Our request would support the aims of the National Park and help
to future proof it.
It would also reduce the amount of damaging social media,
specifically Tik Tok and instagram that show the A4076 being a good
(fast) ride.
A freedom of information request allowed access to a crash map
1999-2022 which recorded 44 accidents.
There have been 2 single vehicle crashes in the last 3 months, one
of which demolished the flashing light unit for Beiligwern.
The A4067 runs through the Dyfed-Powys Police and South Wales Police area. This response only relates to accidents that have occurred in the DPP area.
There have been 10 Non Injury Road traffic collisions at this
location.
Since the introduction of the new CRASH system in May 2023, there
have been 14 Injury RTC's which have been recorded as occurring on
the A4067.
Please note:
With regards to damage only RTC's figures above, these relate to
when an officer has submitted an RTC report for the incident, and
the location has been recorded as the A4067
The need for speed cameras
Speed cameras are essential to support a reduced speed limit.
And reduce the number of accidents.
The current speed limit of 60mph is regularly exceeded.
Our police force is overstretched and very rarely are speed
checks carried out.
However as can be seen in the information below, on the few
occasions monitored, a significant number of motorists have been
caught speeding.
1st January 2014-12th May 2023 there were 95 people stopped by an
officer and issued with a traffic offence.
A disadvantage of speed checks is that motorists are often
warned by other motorists.
The signs for speed cameras are already there. One would need to be
moved to the approach to Nantmadog from Defynnog.
Beiligwern Farm Safety Lights
Flashing lights were agreed at Beiligwern Farm by the council in
1996 after a long battle and loss of livestock and injury to Mr
G.Price.
It was agreed that the Council would retain ownership of the equipment and be responsible for servicing the equipment (see letter May 1996).
The lights fell into disrepair and were condemned.
Mr and Mrs Price have been in dispute over this since 2017 when
they were told that the council would reinstate the lights but Mr
and Mrs Price would have to pay the full cost.
Mr and Mrs Price argue that if the Council had maintained the
lights as stated in the letter dated 28thMay 1996 that the problem
would not have occurred.
The cost of this is unknown.
Since then Dec 2024, a truck has demolished a set of lights in a
single vehicle crash.
Mr and Mrs Price of Beiligwern and Mr and Mrs.Price of Nantmadog
have been told that they are responsible for the safety of the
highway.
I have been informed this is not the case.
Both families have to flag down traffic travelling at high
speeds 60+ using only high viz jackets. Both farms are on a long
stretch of 60 mph traffic with Nantmadog having the additional
hazard of a bend and hill immediately prior to the crossing.
Other farmers take livestock across roads but it is the speed and
heavy use in the summer that makes this road particularly
dangerous.
Locals who know when livestock is likely to cross slow down on
this stretch of road however this can make it more dangerous
because vehicles then overtake at the point where the livestock is
gathered because the road marking allow for overtaking.
It is imperative that double white lines are urgently
installed.
The road signage indicates that there are flashing lights when
livestock is crossing. These lights as already stated are not
working therefore cars ignore the slow down signage.
Both farmers have suffered abuse from the public for stopping
them.
It is difficult to understand why these farmers are both having to fight so hard to improve safety for themselves and all users of the A4067.
We believe that a speed limit of 60 is unacceptable and
dangerous and request that the changes set out are
implemented.
Thank you
Started by: Vaughn Mudie
This ePetition runs from 21/01/2025 to 18/02/2025.
171 people have signed this ePetition.