Highway chiefs say no to signs

An 18-month battle to ensure safety of schoolchildren on a busy Powys road could be lost after highways bosses threw out proposals to erect road signs.

Welshpool Town Council has been fighting to make the A483 road by the Belan bus stop, near Welshpool, a safer place for children to wait before they catch the bus.

Councillors fear someone could be seriously injured unless pedestrian crossing signs are put up.

But Powys County Council said today the road did not warrant having any signs, following a recent survey. The final decision lies with the Welsh Assembly.

Welshpool town clerk Robert Robinson said: "The bus stop is alongside the busy A483 trunk road and we are concerned about the dangers facing schoolchildren who cross the road to catch buses at Belan.

"We have been fighting to get pedestrian crossing signs erected and want them to be put up before it's too late and someone is injured. It is one of the council's top priorities.

"But we have now had a letter from Powys County Council telling us they won't be putting up the signs, which I think is awful."

Mr Robinson said as part of the campaign the town council carried out a risk assessment 18 months ago to see if it was possible for children to cross safely. This showed the bends at Belan restricted visibility, did not slow traffic and, once a pedestrian was crossing, the stopping distance of a car travelling at 60mph would not prevent an accident.

"Eleven years ago a 14-year-old boy was seriously injured after being hit by a lorry," he said. "We have also been calling for the speed limit on the road to be reduced.

"I understand there was a move sometime ago to change the limit on rural roads from 60mph to 50mph but I'm not sure what has happened to that initiative."

Lee Evans, communications officer for Powys County Council, said: "Our officers carried out an investigation and found that pedestrian signs were not needed.

"We have reported our findings to the Welsh Assembly Government who will make the final decision on the matter."

The Welsh Assembly Government was unavailable to comment earlier today.