THE residents of a Meirionnydd village who launched a campaign last summer to slash the speed limit of the road running through it say they are still “gripped by traffic fear” and Gwynedd Council isn’t doing anything to help their cause.

Residents in Rhyd y Sarn contacted the Cambrian News last July to launch their appeal for the 60mph speed limit there to be slashed to 30mph.

The call came following a spate of accidents along the road between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Maentwrog that residents say is too narrow for a pavement or verge to walk along. With vehicles passing dangerously close to pedestrians, the people of Rhyd y Sarn say there is a serious risk of injury or even death, unless the speed limit is halved.

Campaign co-ordinator Peter Jones the residents’ road safety campaign continues following another crash in the village on Tuesday, 11 January.

He said: “This problem has been going on for far too many years without being resolved by Gwynedd Council.

“The new year got off to a bad start when, on 11 January, another crash occurred inflaming the continuing fear among residents for their safety on this dangerous stretch of road.

“The A496 is acknowledged by motor insurers as one of the most dangerous in Britain.”

Mr Jones said the council did announce last summer that they would engage with experts to examine the problem and make recommendations, but the 60mph speed limit remains.

“Everyone knows that at 30mph there’s a better chance of controlling a vehicle before disaster strikes – at 60mph there isn’t,” Peter said.

“Only by the strict imposition of a sensible speed limit can we residents feel safer in our village, devoid as it is of any provision for pedestrians.

“In the Welsh Government’s publication on setting local speed limits in Wales, it recommends consulting those affected by the issues, the intention being to gain the benefit of local knowledge. To date, council officials have not consulted with residents, and nor have they installed speed recording equipment on the long stretch of the A496 running the length of our village. It was recommended they do so last year. They have so far – inexplicably – just recorded speeds of braking vehicles going round a sharp bend.”

When residents launched the campaign last summer, Gwynedd Council said it was “sympathetic to the effect” these accidents and the lack of pavement through the village was having on local residents, adding that several measures were introduced in 2017 to improve road safety due to the number of collisions the previous years.

“This included crash barriers, road markings and improved signage,” a council spokesperson said then.

“We understand the concerns and aim to take additional steps to improve the situation.

“We will be working with North Wales Police to ensure we fully understand all the factors related to collisions in the area and to identify what road safety improvements could be suitable.

“As part of these efforts, Welsh Government funding has been secured to carry out a review of road safety measures by experts in the autumn, paying particular attention to concerns at Rhyd y Sarn. We hope the report and recommendations will be ready by the end of the year.”

Gwynedd Council has been asked to comment on the latest claim that nothing new has been done.