Stop chaos now, residents warn (From Barry And District News)

Stop chaos now, residents warn

BARRY residents are up in arms over the build-up of traffic in St Paul's Avenue.

They say the narrow street cannot cope with the number of vehicles parked there.

And they add that congestion is worse during early mornings, and evenings, when parents drop-off and collect their children from High Street Primary School.

The problems has got so bad that the Vale of Glamorgan Council has stepped in and proposed a one-way system, plus a number of other traffic calming measures.

Mary Lawrence who has lived in the street for 37 years, said: "It's terrible. I think it should be residents only parking. My husband has been to a few of the council meetings and we would welcome a one-way system."

Resident Claire O'Kelly added that if the one-way system was introduced, then it would be most effective running from Gladstone Road towards High Street.

"If the one-way system continued on from High Street then I think it would just add to the problem," she added.

One anonymous resident has even complained that the houses facing the school have been contaminated by a black soot caused by vehicle exhausts.

The 64-year-old said: "The filthy diesel and petrol fumes generated by heavy traffic poses a serious health problem for people living here."

A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesman said: "A report is being prepared for consideration by the planning committee that firstly proposes making St Paul's Avenue one-way for vehicular traffic between its junctions with Trinity Street and Hilda Street in that direction."

Other planned measures include a 20mph zone and a no-stopping order to limit the the volume of traffic entering the street.

The council spokesman added: "It is also proposed that the 20mph zone and similar traffic calming features should operate over part of Trinity Street either side of its junction with St Paul's Avenue, and in High Street on approach to the same junction."

But a small group of residents has warned that if nothing is done about the traffic problems, then it's possible legal action may be taken against the council.

n What do you think? Should St Paul's Avenue be one way or is it a fuss about nothing?