A MAJOR Penarth roundabout could be removed, with new one-way systems proposed under a trial set to be agreed by the council.

Vale of Glamorgan Council’s cabinet is set to decide this month whether to introduce an experimental traffic order which would see the removal of the roundabout at the junction of Plassey Street and Windsor Road.

The roundabout would be removed in favour of an uncontrolled junction permitting one-way eastbound traffic along Plassey Street to its junction with High Street.

A short section of one-way traffic could also be introduced on High Street between Ludlow Street and Windsor Road with traffic heading north to south only.

It means traffic would be able to use Plassey Street or Windsor Road to access Penarth town centre, or Windsor Road to exit the town via the signal junction at Barons Court.

A toucan crossing is also proposed in Windsor Road immediately east after the new junction with Plassey Street.

A council report says “enhanced cycle facilities” would be provided along Plassey Street over the length of the one-way system.

The trial would cost £65,000, paid for from a £1.47million section 106 contribution from the developers of Penarth Heights.

But if it proves successful the new traffic system would cost £1.2 million to implement on a permanent basis.

Vale of Glamorgan Council’s cabinet is set to decide whether to introduce the experimental one-way traffic regulation order at its meeting on January 21, after deferring the decision on January 7.

It follows a consultation on four possible options on how to improve traffic arrangements in the area, held between May 14 and July 9, 2018.

The council has decided to progress with option two – a one-way system for Plassey Street and High Street – but not go ahead with a 20mph speed limit after concerns raised in the consultation.

The order, if approved, could remain in place up to for 18 months, after which time the order has to be withdrawn or made permanent.

There have been six road crashes in the area covered by the order between June 2015 and June 2018 that resulted in personal injury – two of which were serious, four were minor. Four of these crashes – three slight and one serious – were caused by drivers failing to look properly before manoeuvring, a council report says.

The remaining minor incidents were caused by driver illness or disability, while one serious crash took place due to “an emergency vehicle on call and negligent action to open the vehicle door,” the council report says.

In that time, there were no crashes in the area which involved personal injury to pedestrians or cyclists.