Traffic fears mount (From Penarth Times)

Traffic fears mount

FURIOUS Plaid Cymru councillors are taking their campaign for a Dinas Powys bypass to an influential Vale of Glamorgan committee as concerns about traffic in the area mounts.

Plans for a bypass have been debated for more than thirty years but now councillors say it's time for action with traffic regularly clogging the arteries of Cardiff Road during peak-time.

The campaign is being taken to the Vale's Community Liaison Committee - which comprises community leaders from across the Vale.

Plaid Cymru councillor Val Hartrey, who represents the village, says people were growing increasingly frustrated by the traffic congestion along Cardiff Road.

She said: "The community of Dinas Powys is suffering from an ever-increasing volume of traffic using Cardiff Road. For many hours of the day traffic congestion often extends from the Merrie Harriers traffic signals to beyond the Murch Road/Millbrook Road junction.

"The people of Dinas Powys have been forced to suffer the noise, pollution and dangers created by the traffic conditions for far too long.

"It is bumper to bumper on a weekend and during the midweek school runs combined with works traffic the road is very busy.

"The Dinas Powys Community Council is again calling on the Welsh Assembly Government to recognise the need for a commitment to provide an alternative route for the 20,000 vehicles that travel through Dinas Powys every day."

Fellow Plaid councillor Chris Williams added: "The Cardiff-Barry link road has been proposed as an essential component in the economic development of Barry, linking Cardiff Bay and Barry Waterfront. This proposed road would follow the route of the proposed Dinas Powys bypass.

"The Dinas Powys Community Council asks that the Vale council redoubles its efforts to obtain funding for a relief road. We believe that so far only lip service has been paid to the vital scheme. However, the key is the Welsh Assembly Government must authorise and fund such a road."