New call for traffic lights at Morriston blackspot
FRESH calls have been made for traffic lights to be installed at an accident blackspot that claimed the life of a teenage girl.
More than 1,800 people signed a petition demanding the mini- roundabout at the junction of Vicarage Road and Clasemont Road in Morriston be replaced with lights following the death of 17-year-old Hayley Paddison in 2005.
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Gaynor Griffiths.
This week an 18-year-old girl was treated for minor injuries following an accident at the very same spot – an incident which has brought back tragic memories for Hayley's mother.
"I have come across three accidents myself at that roundabout since my daughter's accident," said Gaynor Griffiths.
"It always brings back horrible memories. It is still a very dangerous junction and the council has done nothing to improve it."
Paramedics were called to Vicarage Road at 9am on Wednesday following an accident involving one car. An 18-year-old girl was treated for minor injuries, but according to residents it could have been a lot worse.
The vicar of St David's in Morriston, the Rev Hugh Lervy lives just off the junction.
"It is still extremely dangerous, "he said. There have been numerous minor accidents and untold near misses, it really is a huge concern."
Popular A-level student Hayley Paddison, from Parcgwernfadog, was killed in the early hours of June 19, 2005, in an horrific two-car smash at the junction. The teenager's death led to calls for the roundabout to be replaced with traffic lights.
Within weeks, a mass petition with thousands of signatures was collected and handed to Swansea Council.
Campaigner and Morriston Residents Association member Mike Cotton said: "We presented our petition to full council and we were told we had the backing of the councillors. In fact preparation work was carried out at the roundabout for the installation of traffic lights, but nearly three years later we still have nothing. But we've fought too hard to give up so we will carry on."
A Swansea Council spokesman said: "The site is being looked at as part of the Council's current traffic calming programme. We hope to consult with residents and interested parties early next year once the preliminary design of a range of possible improvement measures has been completed."
3 Comments
by Medusa, Swansea
Tuesday, November 24 2009, 11:43AM
“No what we need are the correct enforcement to ensure that motorists drive WITHIN the speed limit. And motorists need to be bought to book; they don't own the road and if there is a pedestrian in their way they must GIVE WAY.
We are being pushed further into the hedge to that cars take priority and I'd fed about it.
No traffice wardens, no law enforcement!”
by roy.adams, dunvant
Monday, November 23 2009, 11:45AM
“It is about time that the council should start taking notice of what local residents are saying . These local people (1800) of them have obviously identified a road safety problem within their area--This issue has gone on far to long without positive action. The, same old excuse of, ("We have not got any money available" ) is just not good enough excuse, when people's lives are at stake, especially when you consider how much finance, is and has been wasted by our council.”
by Mair, Morriston
Monday, November 23 2009, 10:59AM
“This is a disaster area waiting to happen, I too with Gaynor, Mike Cotton, Terry Kift and many others who collected names for our petition to get the dangerous crossroads changed. When you approach it from Pentrepoeth Road it is difficult to see what is coming from the bottom half of Vicarage Road and then when you are lucky to get accross you are instantly met with a zebra crossing. I too was at the meeting at the then County Hall to hear them say they would put all the ducting etc in place ready for traffic lights when they made changes to Pentrepoeth Road etc but as stated after all these years lights have not been installed and the only things we are told his "we are looking at the best option" or "there is no money in the kitty this year" but there was plenty of money change all the road structures to accommodate the bendybus. When the next very serious accidents happens we will say "WE TOLD YOU SO" because there are plenty of minor accidents or near misses, just what will it take to make them listen”