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Friday
18  October

New Guilsfield speed limit consultation approved

 
23/07/2024 @ 09:23

 

By Elgan Hearn, Local Democracy Reporter

A consultation is due to start on a number of changes to bring the traffic speed down at a staggered road crossing on the outskirts of Guilsfield.

Using delegated powers yesterday, the council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, Liberal Democrat Cllr Jackie Charlton signed off on the proposal which comes into force on Tuesday, July 30.

A month-long consultation needs to take place as part of the legal process to make the order which includes parts of the hamlet of Groes-lwyd.

North (Powys) traffic officer Chris Lloyd explained that the traffic regulation order consultation and implementation process to introduce a 40mph speed limit is along parts of the A490 and the B4392 county roads.

It also includes implementing a 20mph speed limit along parts of the B4392, U2166 and U4860 county roads at Groes-lwyd and Guilsfield.

Mr Lloyd said: “All of the roads subject to the proposed order are currently the subject of the national speed limit, with the exception of a small length of the B4392 in front of Rhoslan which is currently the subject of the restricted road speed limit.”

Dropping the speed limit is a planning gain and the report explained that developers were obliged to draw up and pay for it.

Oswestry-based Pickstock Homes have planning permission to build 22 homes at land west of Rhoslan and east of Groes-lwyd.

Due to road safety concerns, in August 2022 villagers had lodged a petition with the council for a lower speed limit in this vicinity which is near Hardings Garden Centre as there are three exits and entries in the space of 50 metres on both sides of the road.

This had also been asked for by Powys County Councillor for Guilsfield, Ian Harrison.

In April 2023 traffic speed surveys took place along the A490 which runs past Guilsfield from Welshpool going towards Llanfyllin.

The mean speed along the A490 approaching the staggered crossroad were 49.1 mph reducing to 40.8 mph northbound and 46.4 mph southbound towards Welshpool.

He added that traffic speed surveys along the B4392 between the A490 and the Rhoslan housing estate junction in April 2023, showed that the mean traffic speeds were 38.2mph coming out of Guilsfield and 39.4mph going into the village.

Mr Lloyd said: “Those traffic surveys support the introduction of a 40mph speed limit along those sections or county road.”

Since then, the Welsh Government has also introduced the controversial 20mph restricted roads legislation.

Due to this, Mr Lloyd added that the council had “concluded” that the western part of the B4392 and part of the U2166 where residential properties front onto the road would be reduced to 20mph.

The report said that Cllr Harrison supports the new speed limit as do Dyfed-Powys Police.

If there are no objections coming from the consultation, the traffic regulation orders will be implemented.