residents in a Meirionnydd village say they are living in permanent fear following a spate of road collisions.

Having launched their speed-reduction campaign last summer, residents in the village of Rhyd y Sarn near Blaenau Ffestiniog say they are living in fear of the staggering number of car crashes, threatening their community.

Calls for improved safety measures along the A496 have been reignited following a collision last weekend.

On Sunday, 20 February, a vehicle hit a road-side wall in the village.

Campaigners say fortunately, the driver just escaped serious injury, for had the car gone a bit further through the wall it would have plunged down into the river below.

Residents’ Campaign co-ordinator, Peter Jones, said: “Village residents regularly cross the road here, waiting on little more than inches of what

passes for ‘pavement’.

“Had they been standing there last Sunday, they would have been unlikely to have survived the impact of the crash.

“Gwynedd Council repaired this wall twice last year after crashes. If they exercised some common sense and imposed a 30mph limit here, there wouldn’t be such a waste of council tax-payers’ money rebuilding infrastructure.”

“There were four crashes last year and two so far this year – and it’s only February!”

Mr Jones added: “How many crashes does it take for a council to act to protect our human

rights?

“It is tantamount to negligence for any local authority to fail in its duty of care to its residents.”

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the situation along this stretch of the A496 and are sympathetic to the effect it’s having on the lives of local residents. “That is why the council has carried out a road safety audit of the road in this location. The findings from this work is now being used to prepare proposals for improvements along this stretch of road.”