Close paths (From Barry And District News)

Close paths

I RARELY reply to anonymous letters in the press, such as that in the Penarth Times of March 25, which sought to criticise not only myself, but equally the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

Correspondents who do not have the courage to append their names and addresses to a public letter ensure that they cannot be identified, and taken to task about their allegations of supposed inaction.

As the county councillor representing Sully, I am always willing to listen and take back the concerns of any legitimate elector.

Essentially, the writer complains about traffic volumes throughout Sully, Dinas Powys and suburban Penarth, and suggests that both speed and numbers of vehicles are higher then they would like. Little argument with that sentiment, I am sure we agree.

We are told that neither the local councillors, not the police, nor the former South Glamorgan County Council, listened to the concerns of residents, over a period of some twenty years, and that "the cost would not be too great."

Fine words, easily uttered - even if grossly inaccurate! As recently as last week, I yet again met with Highway Officers, to consider whether any further improvements can be made.

Some modest enhancements can be made, but at further cost to the several thousands of pounds spent in Sully in the past few months, on new signs, road markings and fresh warning indicators.

As for speeds, of course I did not take these myself, (we use a machine), and this records the actual speeds of vehicles, by number, on an hourly basis.

The most recent count I had undertaken was in Smithies Avenue, both eastbound and westbound, where the most interesting figure was the volume of vehicles, and not the alleged speeding.

As for the lanes, bordering Sully, I have had the 30mph signs moved further out both in Swanbridge Road, and Cog Road, and red rondels are to be laid down shortly.

Cllr A M Ernest Civic Offices Holton Road Barry