ISSUES of cars speeding and a lack of police presence in Blaenavon were raised with councillors at a public meeting.

Cllr Alan Jones called the meeting in the Workmen’s Hall on Wedensday after receiving over 20 complaints last month.

He said: "The problem has got significantly worse over the last 12 months.”

Speeding vehicles through the town’s main streets of Cwmavon Road, Forge Side Road and Varteg Road were highlighted during the meeting as were problems with lorries.

Alan Styles of Prince Street brought along a number of photos showing local road issues.

He said: “It’s not just the speeding, but also the road width, even lorries wing mirrors mean you have to duck out of the way.”

Questions on the town’s level of policing were also raised.

One resident said: “He who shouts loudest will get a reply, if we keep banging on the police’s drum, they will have to take notice of these issues”.

Another spoke of how he has previously felt intimidated by a lorry driver’s response after taking a picture of the vehicle mounting the kerbs.

Cllr Jones, of both Torfaen County Borough Council and Blaenavon Town council, said: “We only have one police officer and there’s no denying the lack of man power doesn’t help, but people also need to be educated about the issues.

“I know police do patrols early in the morning and in the evening as I have seen them."

He added: It’s important that residents not only let us know but also the police and get a crime reference number so it is logged, as otherwise there is no record.

"If you look at police records you would think the town had no speeding issues at all.”

Other people at the meeting spoke about the shape of local roads and the current application for open cast mining on Varteg Hill.

Cllr Janet Jones said: “We are all against the open cast mining and don’t have the roads for it, you will see at least four large lorry’s passing through every day and the situation will get worse.

“When you see some of the cars driving around roads such as Forge Side in loops as if it’s a circuit, it’s frightening.”

One concerned resident added: “If there is a bus or lorry, often you see them having to mount the kerbs and it means you can’t safely walk on the pavements.

“I have to think twice about allowing my kids to walk into town.”

There was disappointment voiced at the turn out, with only 21 members of the public turning up despite the number of complaints.

Councillors said this wouldn’t deter them from having future meetings, with one expected before May 5 with the local inspector and a member of Torfaen’s Highways Agency attending.