South Wales Evening Post - 22 November 2006
Peter Black has come up with the feeblest of excuses in claiming that consultation with residents of Manselton Road regarding the installation of traffic calming islands has, in some way, been responsible for the council's failure to set up the 20mph zone we have been promised (Have Your Say, November 14).
Such an excuse might have some justification if Manselton Road itself were to be included in the proposed zone. Much to our disappointment, however, when Roy Adams and Ann Kettle, the secretary of our action group, met Anthony O'Sullivan last December, they were told that the zone would only cover Cecil Street, Manor Road and the other streets to the east of Manselton Road.
The recent trial and conviction of Stephen Lewis for causing the death by dangerous driving of seven-year-old Vicky Clement, has vindicated our call for Manselton Road to be included within the 20mph zone.
Guidance at the trial, provided by a police road traffic expert, stated that, even in perfect weather conditions, vehicles would cause a danger to pedestrians if travelling at speeds above 24mph to 26mph. In poor visibility or wet or icy conditions, vehicles would obviously need to travel at significantly slower speeds.Bearing in mind that we have a large primary school close by, as well as sheltered housing for the elderly and disabled, a 20mph speed limit for Manselton Road would surely appear to any sane person to be basic common sense.
Back in December 2005, Anthony O'Sullivan told us that Manselton Road should not be included in the zone because it could interfere with First Cymru's bus services.
Subsequent correspondence with the bus company has revealed that is definitely not the case. Now we have to listen to pathetic excuses as a result of consultation over traffic islands, which would not be needed at all, if only the council would just get on with what really needs to be done - creating a 20mph zone for the entire residential area of Manselton.
How much longer are we going to have to wait for our councillors to get their act together? Flashy boulevards to accommodate bendy buses and rows of marble benches costing £2,400 a piece are all very impressive, but what about some effort going into highway improvements in Swansea's established residential communities?
Rhodri Griffiths, Green Party Assembly Candidate, South Wales West Region
