Fatal accident is 'a matter of time' (From Free Press Series)

Fatal accident is 'a matter of time'

RESIDENTS are demanding a permanent speed camera along a Gwent road notorious for speeding.

People in Snatchwood, near Abersychan, have branded a one-mile section of the A4043 as dangerous and fear unless action is taken a pedestrian will soon be killed.

They say they find it increasingly difficult to cross the road because of speeding drivers.

There have been 45 accidents in the last ten years - seven of them resulting in serious injuries - along the route of St Luke's Road, which turns into Snatchwood Road. Parked cars on either side of the road and motorists regularly breaking the speed limit of 30mph are two factors, say residents.

Pensioner Mona Taylor, of Owendale Terrace, Snat-chwood, said cars regularly "belt down the road like lightning".

"I've got arthritis and can't walk very quickly, and have had to wait up to ten minutes to cross the road just to get to the bus stop," said Mrs Taylor, 81. "I feel very nervous crossing the road - there needs to be either a speed camera or a crossing before someone gets seriously hurt."

Owen Elliott, 69, of Ambleside, Talywain, added: "A speed camera would make cars slow down but there also needs to be enforcement of parking restrictions to clear the road of parked cars."

Councillor Gwyneira Clark said the road was also hazardous because of the many cars parked outside houses in Snatchwood Road.

Despite repeated requests from councillors, there is also no pedestrian crossing between Pontnewynydd and Abersychan. Councillor Ivor Davies has been campaigning for a crossing for the last 30 years.

"We shouldn't have to wait until there's a fatal accident before anything's done," said the Snatchwood councillor.

In the latest crash, on February 28, a 66-year-old woman was injured while crossing at traffic lights in St Luke's Road. She sustained minor injuries.

Government guidelines state there need to be four accidents in which someone is seriously injured or killed in the last three years within one kilometre of a site before a static speed camera will be considered.

A spokesman for Gwent Police said the section of the A4043 did meet the criteria to be a mobile camera site. A mobile camera unit has been located there 41 times in the last 11 months.