Drivers' one-way plan anger
A NEW road layout aimed at reducing pollution in Port Talbot has been hit by problems days after it opened.
Neath Port Talbot Council highway bosses blocked the north end of Water Street, with only buses and cyclists able to use it.
It means drivers heading from Heilbron Way roundabout to Afan Way will have to detour along the new phase of the town's peripheral distributor road.
However, motorists have complained the new one-way scheme has caused traffic to build up at the roundabout between Heilbron Way and Water Street, adding 10 minutes to their journeys.
Christine David, from Gwendoline Street, Aberavon, said a five-minute drive had been turned into a 15-minute journey. She said: "Tesco's plan to build a superstore was refused because they feared it would take trade from town.
"Now, it's easier for me to go to Morrison's."
On Tuesday, one driver crashed his vehicle on the new bus- blocker in Water Street.
The Swansea worker collided with the new ramp on Tuesday, just days after it was installed, writing off his van.
He said there was little warning about the blocker until it was too late. The driver said he regularly travelled the route, but had no idea about the new road layout.
"You'd think there would be a sign, in advance, saying 'new road layout ahead', but there's nothing until it's too late," he said. "I've heard stories from residents that the new layout is causing chaos. "People on the scene were diverting traffic on the roundabout by hand to warn them."
Head of engineering and transport at Neath Port Talbot Council John Flower, said: "There are signs at the roundabout as you exit, and all signs on all entries to the roundabout have been altered to show the changes.
"There is also an opportunity to turn when you enter Water Street. Drivers can turn into Church Street and do a U-turn.
"Drivers are also travelling along a road painted green to show they are entering a different zone."
Mr Flower said drivers would be able to see the 533mm bus blocker. He said there had been no other accidents since the road layout was put in place on Sunday, but a few motorists had used Church Street to turn.
The one-way layout was intended to improve air quality by reducing levels of nitrogen dioxide.
Neath Port Talbot Council says the changes will be reviewed after three months.
Aberavon councillors Tony Taylor, Jeff Dinham and John Sullivan objected to the scheme, which they say was passed by cabinet in isolation.
"We think there should have been wider consultation," said Councillor Taylor.
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by Peter Ross, Margam
Sunday, March 07 2010, 10:29PM
“The PDR road is hardly unnecessary as any Port Talbot resident knows! If you are from Swansea, you wouldn't see the tailbacks that occur every Thursday & Friday through Margam! The issue here is that at this moment in time, it doesn't GO anywhere. We needed the Margam section done first because that is where the troubles lay. In all my years in the town, I've never seen a holdup on the old Afan Way. I'd like to know which of the idiots running our council voted to do it backward? Behind closed doors? What gives them, (our representatives) the right to hold ANY meeting behind closed doors? They should be honour bound to keep everything out in the open where we can see & have sensible input into anything they have to vote on for our benifit! There should be a public gallery for ALL council meetings that should be attended by all local press & anyone else that wants to see how to bring a country to its knees. Bus stops being built out into the road instead of pull ins... That's a good move, NOT! The traffic lights in town instead of the old roundabout, DOH! Turn the fastest section of road for getting around Port Talbot into a dual carriageway & then end it behind raiway gates & at the west end entrance to CORUS. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? If they wanted to clean up that section of town, they should have placed a compulsory purchase order on all the buildings on the Afan side of the road & flattened the lot! Landscaped, that would have improved the air quality no end along with the view! Open the East side of the PDR to the Motorway before forcing people onto the road to nowhere, that way they WILL start to use it. Is that so hard to understand? All we need now is Bendy Buses to complete the ruination of our transport system. Maybe our council will buy them off Swansea council for a song once they realise what a monumental Cock Up they have dropped there! (Do NOT take that as a serious suggestion NPT CO Boro Co)”
by Orecarrier, Port Talbot
Monday, February 15 2010, 11:17PM
“PS. A couple of bags of quick drying cement should do the trick.”
by Orecarrier, Port Talbot
Monday, February 15 2010, 11:15PM
“Am I missing something here ??.
Am I to believe that vehicles going down Water Street were producing pollution but vehicles travelling up were not polluting. The truth is this is enforcement because the Council were upset no one used the road that goes no where.”
by Bobbie Evans, Duffryn Rhondda
Saturday, February 13 2010, 7:45PM
“My husband is a taxi driver in Port Talbot, and has had nothing but complaints from passengers about this new road set up. It is adding about £2.00 to each journey from the bus station to Aberavon and Sandfields areas.
Will the Council reimburse these people that money? NO of course not.
Not only is it inconvenient to drive from the bus station to Aberavon via the distributor road constantly, it is just a plain waste of time.
As Dean Jones said, the council have to justify the distributor road by closing off Water Street as no one was using it.”
by Kathryn, Duffryn Rhondda
Friday, February 12 2010, 5:01PM
“So the money they are spending 'improving' this area that was unnecessary could have been spent on the Schools and nursing homes that they are now trying to close (and no doubt will cos they don't listen to a word that anyone who uses these facilities says, despite all the pretense they go through with their bits of paper) What is the matter with this council????”