A protest is being held tomorrow against the safe zone traffic diversion route through Cardigan, which has “caused nothing but annoyance and severe upset” to residents.

At 12pm on Saturday, 3 October, local residents and business owners of the We Say No To Cardigan Town Traffic Diversion group will be protesting on the streets of Cardigan.

A member of the group, Lara Borley, told the Cambrian News the group are not against the safe zones, but against the diversion route that has been put in place by the council.

She said many have suggested alternative routes, but that this has “fallen on deaf ears”. Lara added that they had been “brushed off” by the mayor and councillors.

“The group isn’t against closing the high street to traffic as some think but rather the poorly thought out route that came into place without and residents being consulted, going past residential streets that are very narrow and some without a path,” Lara said.

“That has become very dangerous especially for those with children, people are essentially stepping out into what is now a very busy road.”

Lara and her mum Jane Borley, who was one of the founders of the group, live on the corner of Greenfield Square, on the diversion route.

“Seeing buses daily try and make that tight corner in Greenfield square right in front of our door jangles your nerves. They have to mount the path in order to make that corner or risk hitting the wall or the front of our house.”

Protestors will be walking the diversion route, slowing down the traffic but not blocking the road completely, to “bring attention to the unsafe level of traffic going down the small side roads."

They will meet by the Otter Statue on Bridge Street at 12pm, “sticking to the social distance and safety guidelines”, before walking down Quay Street, around Greenfield Square and then back down the High Street to return to the Otter.

Lara added: “We have tried to keep a conversation going, but have been brushed off. Many of us have suggested alternative routes all of which have fallen on deaf ears.

“The negative impact this has had on the residents’ mental health, especially my mum, has been shocking.

“The endless traffic, noise and pollution has been ridiculous. We just want it to end and be redirected on a route that is not residential, especially now the tourists have gone home and the high street is mainly empty.”