CROSSINGS in three villages on the A487, south of Aberystwyth, could be installed in a bid to improve safety, the Welsh Government has said, following a renewed call from a councillor over safety fears.

Earlier this month, the Cambrian News reported that Cllr Alun Lloyd Jones, who represents the Llanfarian ward on Ceredigion County Council, said he has “repeatedly” called for crossings in Llanfarian, Rhydyfelin and Blaenplwyf, and wrote to the officials at the trunk road agency in a bid to see the crossings finally installed.

In a response, the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency - now part of the Welsh Government - said that it “will commission pedestrian crossing assessments in Blaenplwyf, Rhydyfelin and Llanfarian next financial year subject to the availability of funding.”

The Welsh Government said it also plans to “implement speed management works at Blaenplwyf during this financial year”, and is currently reviewing what engineering measures can be provided at Llanfarian.

It will also review speed data at Rhydyfelin to “understand if similar engineering measures are required here.”

Cllr Lloyd Jones said: “I have been the councillor for my ward for over 30 years and have requested many times that road safety is improved along the stretch of the A487 that goes through Llanfarian, Rhydyfelin, and Blaenplwyf.

“Ideally a pedestrian crossing at Llanfarian, Blaenplwyf, and Rhydyfelin would certainly help on this dangerous road that goes through the three villages.

“Dozens of children cross this road morning and evening to catch the bus to Aberystwyth schools, and return to their homes.

“There have been many near-misses as children see their buses approaching and run across the road in case they lose their school transport.

“There are more and more developments in the area, and a small new estate is nearing completion in Rhydyfelin which will add to the problems.

“There is a primary school in Llanfarian, and again the traffic problems morning and evening give great cause for concern.”

As well as the crossings, Cllr Lloyd Jones said that he had been “promised many years ago a footpath between Llanfarian and Rhydyfelin”.

The Welsh Government said that while a path “has not been identified in any footway programme previously”, it is “working with Ceredigion County Council to deliver routes identified in its Active Travel Consultation.”

Cller Lloyd Jones said he “looked forward to a positive outcome” from the reviews and urged officials to give his “very real worries and concerns your sympathetic consideration before there is an accident or worse as a consequence to the lack of basic road safety provision.”

The Welsh Government said it “takes the safety of all road users very seriously”, and “routinely reviews speed data across the trunk road network to understand where it needs to implement engineering measures to improve compliance with the speed limit.”