Villagers relieved after landslide road reopens

ONE of Port Talbot's busiest roads has partly reopened days after a landslide put it off-limits to traffic.

Tonnes of earth and debris collapsed onto the B4286 Cwmavon Road at Pantdu on New Year's Eve — just a few hundred yards from where a landslip caused havoc in October 2008.

Villagers feared they were in danger of being cut off because the other main route connecting Cwmavon with Port Talbot, the A4107 Afan Valley Road, has been reduced to a light-controlled single lane because of safety fears.

Now Cwmavon Road is also down to a single lane, again with traffic lights controlling the flow of traffic.

Bryn and Cwmavon councillor Marion Lewis told the Post: "The road will have to stay partly closed because there are fears over the stability of the trees on the bank.

"Some of them are showing bare roots and there are concerns there could be further problems. Every time something went passed, the vibrations were bringing more down." However, Cwmavon Road was completely closed overnight on Monday and last night.

"This was to allow additional concrete barriers to be put in place and work to be carried out to dislodge any loose material," said a Neath and Port Talbot spokes- woman. "The road will continue to operate on a single lane with traffic management for the time being."

Last week's landslide prom- pted fears that, with the A4107 down to a single lane at Lletti Harri, further problems could mean the village losing both main access roads to Port Talbot.

Neath Port Talbot Council has come up with a repair project for the A4107, but it is not programmed to start until at least April because of the near £1 million price tag.

Councillor Lewis said: "We hope that will start in April, but it will mean closing the road. We will have to sort Cwmavon Road out before that."

paul.lewis@swwmedia.co.uk