A STRETCH of road in Meirionnydd urgently needs to be made safe, according to the local MP.

There have been 26 crashes in the space of just one year on the A487 between Maentwrog and Gellilydan and Liz Saville Roberts is calling on Welsh Government to act before anyone else is killed or injured.

The Welsh Government has stated its “absolutely committed” to road safety and is investigating safety measures on the lethal stretch of road.

In January this year, Anna Williams, 22, and six-month-old Mili Wyn Ginniver were killed when the car they were in a collision with a lorry.

Ms Williams was pronounced dead at the scene and baby Mili died later in hospital.

Mili’s mum Sioned Wyn Williams, who was also in the car, suffered serious injuries but is now recovering in hospital.

An inquest is expected to be held later this year and the cause of the crash is still being investigated.

Mrs Saville Roberts has called on the Welsh Government to carry out an urgent and comprehensive review of road safety measures on the road.

She said: “I echo long-standing local calls that something should be done about safety along this busy trunk road with a reported 26 accidents having taken place on the A487 between Maentwrog and Gellilydan between 2016 and 2017 alone.

“I have asked the Welsh Government to undertake a broad review of safety measures on the A487, with a specific focus on the stretch of road between Maentwrog and the junction with the A470 in Gellilydan.

“I remain concerned about the current level of infrastructure funding being directed towards our rural road network and am disappointed that the cabinet secretary for economy and transport, Ken Skates has so far declined calls to meet with community representatives to discuss this pressing issue.

“It is incumbent on the Welsh Government to improve our aging road infrastructure so it sufficiently meets the demands of 21st century travel,” she said.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We are absolutely committed to improving safety on our roads. The trunk road network is regularly inspected and any safety related defects are addressed as a priority.

"We regularly review collision data to establish the need for road safety improvements, and monitoring speed limits is a continuous process.

"The Trunk Road Safety review shows our current plans for improving safety, including on the A487. We will continue to monitor the situation on this section, however, it is clear Government cannot improve road safety alone and we must all take a shared responsibility to ensure we use our roads safely.”