Traffic island is dangerous, say locals after crash (From Free Press Series)

Traffic island is dangerous, say locals after crash

RESIDENTS of a local village claim new traffic calming measures are causing more harm than good.

The claims follow a serious accident in the village of Llanfoist at 6am on Thursday when a motorcyclist was injured after a collision with a traffic calming island.

The motorcyclist, 20-year-old Louise Jones, of Osbourne Road, Pontypool, remains at Nevill Hall hospital although her injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

But villagers say they are so concerned about the situation they have called a public meeting to discuss the issue.

Local postmaster Eric Saxon said: "We are not against traffic calming measures, but we believe the islands the council have put in are dangerous.

"In particular, the one at the Abergavenny end of the village is on a slope and the poor view makes it very difficult to judge.

"People have told me that since the islands were put in they have seen more minor accidents than at any other time in the past 40 years."

The traffic islands were introduced by Monmouthshire County Council just over a month ago in a bid to slow traffic passing through the village.

Llanfoist councillor Andre Arkell said he doubted the traffic calming islands were to blame. He said: "The islands are clearly indicated and visible.

"I've passed through them myself with no problems. It would be wise to wait for the results of the police investigation into the incident and not assume the accident was a result of the traffic calming measures."

The public meeting will take place at Llanfoist OAP Hall at 7.30pm on March 12.