Traffic forced to slow right down (From Penarth Times)

Traffic forced to slow right down

THE speed limit in Dinas Powys is being lowered after years of campaigning by local residents.

There will be a limit of 20 mph through Dinas Powys and sleeping policeman to slow traffic down.

Chairman of Dinas Powys Road Safety Action, Jean Roderick, said: "It will be less terrifying for pedestrians to cross the road.

It will also be safer for cars with the narrowing of entrances.

At the moment there are five entrances on to the square."

She added that it was difficult for cars to get in to the traffic because of the number of roads leading in to the square.

The route through the village was a popular way to cut out the traffic when going in to or out of Cardiff, she said.

Cars were constantly using the road but at peak times there was chaos.

Chief engineer for the highways department for the Vale of Glamorgan Council, Terry Hawker, said: "This is one of the biggest zones of a 20 mph speed limit in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The scheme itself is not fully decided on yet because we are consulting members of Dinas.

We are taking on board the ideas that the local people have put forward."

But he did say that a road interrupter and the narrowing of access into the village square would be proceeding without further discussion.

Mervyn Ladbrook, a resident of the village and a founder member of the action group said: "There are a lot of older people living in Dinas.

They should be able to cross the road without having to jump out of the way of cars."

He added that he would like to thank the community council for its backing of the scheme.

The campaign for speed limits has been running for ten years and has finally been successful.

A Local Road Safety grant from the Welsh Assembly will provide the money required.