Speed limits through expanding village set to change

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

A consultation will start soon on proposals to change the speed limits on a road that goes through a local village right on the border with Shropshire due to its rapid expansion.

Powys County Council wants to start the process of modifying the speed limit to a section of the B4393 road at Crew Green.

This will mean the 30mph speed zone will extend, the 50mph section will come down to 40mph 20mph speeds will be introduced for access roads off the main road into housing estates.

The need to change the speed limit is because a number of new housing developments for Crew Green have been approved and are currently in the process of being built. Developers have paid for the road traffic order to be processed.

There are also further development proposals in the pipeline for the growing village that could see 42 more houses built just off the road.

Highways and Technical Services Traffic Officer North, Chris Lloyd, said: “Requests to reduce the 50mph speed limit along the B4393 between Crew Green and Coedway have been received from both the local county councillor and residents due to concerns about the suitability of the existing speed limit and driver behaviour along that section of highway.

“The highway authority acknowledges that numerous new developments have been established along the B4393 between Crew Green and Coedway since the current 50mph speed limit was introduced in December 2005.”

He believes it is “logical” that the extra developments have increased the volume of traffic, cyclists and pedestrians along this stretch of road and increases the frequency of vehicles conducting stop, start and turning manoeuvres along it.

Mr Lloyd said that traffic data has been collected and analysed on the existing 50mph speed limit.

Mr Lloyd said: “That data has shown that the average traffic speeds are already near or below 40mph at locations where there are clusters of properties fronting the B4393, at locations where there are side road junctions and private accesses serving multiple properties or other significant developments, and where the forward visibility along the road is restricted due to the vertical and/or horizontal alignment of the county highway.

“That data supports the introduction of a 40mph speed limit along that section of the B4393 between Crew Green and Coedway, which is currently the subject of a 50mph speed limit taking.

“The existing 30mph speed limit on the east side of the village should be extended by approximately 123 metres to a point that corresponds with the eastern boundary of the recently completed Hafren View housing development and Coadway.”

Cllr Lucy Roberts (Llandrinio – Conservative) who represents the area has said that she supports the proposal.

Using delegated powers, the council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, Cllr Jackie Charlton (Liberal Democrat), signed off the proposal.

Cllr Charlton said: “If no substantive objections are received the proposal be implemented.”

Under the council’s protocol if the decision is not called in for scrutiny by Powys councillors, the decision will be implemented five days after being taken.

This means the decision should come into force on Monday, August 8.