A VALE councillor claims the new traffic-light controlled junction at Baron's Court will eliminate traffic congestion in the Penarth area.

Colin Osborne, councillor for Llandough, said the signalling at the junction will be controlled by the Vale authority and believes that it will eliminate tailbacks on Windsor Road, Barry Road and Redlands Road at peak times.

Cllr Osborne said: "The Vale council will control sequencing at the new junction not Cardiff County Council.

"I believe the new lights will provide a long-term solution to the congestion problem and will be able to handle extra traffic from the Harbour Heights development which, let us not forget, is still five or six years away."

Cllr Osborne added that the new junction was popular in Llandough because it provided safe access to Penarth with crossings at all arms of the junction.

Other councillors do not share Cllr Osborne's optimism.

Labour councillor for the St Augustine's ward, Lis Burnett, said: "Talk to anyone in Penarth and the main topic of conversation is traffic.

"Traffic was a major issue at the State of the Area meeting in the Paget Rooms last year and continues to be so.

"Traffic problems affect us all, we are not just talking Windsor Road - Redlands Road and Barry Road are also at a standstill.

"The Marina is used as a rat-run by many trying to escape the queues.

"At the moment I can only see it getting worse.