A meeting has been held in Talybont discuss speeding cars in the village.­

Representatives of the local school, community council and county council were present, along with the local MS and MP and police officers.

The meeting, held on Friday 16 October, was organised by local PCSO Dave Goffin and discussed the need for improved footpaths, better signage, a ‘buffer’ speed zone between the 30 and 20mph zones in the village and the national speed limit road either side, and a call to fix the 20mph warning signs that do not light up correctly.

Following the meeting, Elin Jones MS said: “Safety needs to be improved in Talybont. To do this, all measures need to be considered in order to urge drivers to slow down while driving through the village. 

“The residents, the community council and school representatives outlined short-term, easy solutions that the Trunk Road Agency should implement straight away. These include repainting faded road markings, introducing a slower speed limit area around the village in order to ‘buffer’ speeding vehicles on either side of the village, and of course fixing the defective 20mph light-up signs.

“These signs in particular are a nuisance, as they seem to come on when most children are already in school. This needs to be fixed.” 

Ben Lake MP added: “This was a positive meeting, even though the subject, of course, is very serious. People in Talybont, and especially the children who walk to school every day, need to be confident that it is safe to do so.

“At present the road is not safe, and the recent speeding offences that have been recorded, including cars and lorries, demonstrates that action is needed.

“Improved footpaths along the village should be implemented for the longer term, but a safe crossing is needed urgently.”

Local parents set up a petition earlier this year calling for improved safety measures similar to those currently being installed outside nearby Ysgol Rhydypennau in Bow Street.

In response to the petition, the Welsh Government said it took road safety very seriously and would “consider the request for a pelican crossing” outside the school.

Ceredigion council leader Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn said: “The complaints of residents in Talybont have been raised several times with the Trunk Road Agency, and it is long overdue that they take notice and act without delay to fix the current safety measures that fall below the standard.

“The safety of children and residents is the most important aspect of controlling the flow of vehicles in the village, and I urge the Welsh Government to listen.”