Safety scheme is 'too dangerous' (From Penarth Times)

Safety scheme is 'too dangerous'

A PENARTH scheme aimed at getting the town's school children to school safely has been put in jeopardy by local residents.

Plans to create traffic calming measures and a designated cycle path at Evenlode Primary School could be shelved following concerns by locals.

They claim the area is not suitable for the proposals and could indeed prove hazardous. This is due to the narrowness of the road, the volume of parked cars and the poor access route for emergency services

Now a meeting is to take place between the Vale of Glamorgan Council's Head of Planning and Transportation Rob Thomas and members of the public later this month.

The get-together has been prompted by Penarth councillor Maureen Kelly Owen. She wrote to Mr Thomas after many concerned residents approached her directly.

They feel the proposals need to be widely discussed as they could not only put their property in jeopardy but actually endanger the children's trip to school.

Cllr Kelly Owen told the Times: "Many constituents have approached me about the Council's new plans. They feel a cycle path and other safety measures could be detrimental. "And I know many constituents would benefit from a meeting to offer their opinions about the traffic calming measures."

A local resident, who does not wish to be named, added: "I think the idea of traffic calming around Robinswood Crescent or Clinton Road is ridiculous.

To begin with, it's a very quiet area. There is a footpath which old people use regularly and it seems too dangerous to allow children to cycle along a narrow road like Clinton Road at busy times of the morning. We need to discuss an alternative."

There are also worries that the southern end of Archer Terrace would be too narrow to take any traffic calming measures.

After work, many homeowners park their cars along the street. It would become too narrow to allow access for emergency vehicles. The lane between Archer Terrace and Westbourne Road would also have to be closed.

This is considered essential for the cycle path to be safe, but would make it extremely hazardous for the emergency services to negotiate their way back northwards to Westbourne Road.