ABERAERON town councillors are now questioning whether the price of having a 20mph speed limit installed in the town centre is actually worth it.

It follows the appearance in the town centre of a massive metal pole that has variously been described as "horrific" and "a blot on the landscape".

Last week it emerged that the pole had been erected by the South Wales Trunk Road Agency in preparation for a solar-powered CCTV camera which will monitor traffic speeds once new 20mph speed limits are enforced.

But councillors are now having second thoughts about the scheme which would also include a further 14 signs to support the variable 20mph speed limit between Portland Place and Greenland Terrace.

Town mayor Cllr Elizabeth Evans disclosed that all works had been put on hold following a meeting she held with a senior SWTRA officer.

“He said that this was not a good place to put that pole and expressed surprise that we as a town council were not consulted about what getting a 20mph speed limit on a trunk road actually involves,” she added.

“Basically, there’s going to be a huge highways sign on this pole with a lot of smaller signs underneath.

“I asked for the scheme to be put on hold while we see whether we can get rid of that pole – and do we want to revisit whether we even want a 20mph limit?

“I know that safety is paramount but 14 signs do seem excessive. We will be putting up all of them for a variable speed limit which will revert to being normal for much of the day."

See this week’s South Ceredigion paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now