WELSHPOOL councillors want the Welsh Government to scrap plans for a zebra crossing at the Town Hall and instead turn Broad Street into a one-lane highway.
Plans to build a town centre zebra crossing are included in the Welsh Government’s National Transport Plan, but Welshpool councillors are having second thoughts as to whether it will be in the best interest of the town because they are concerned it will result in a build-up of traffic.
The provision of a crossing point on Broad Street was originally included in a list of improvements to the one-way system sought by Welshpool Town Council because they felt it would “aid the crossing of those who are a little slower”.
Town Clerk Robert Robinson said: “The more the councillors think about the zebra crossing the more concerned they become about it holding up the traffic, maybe to serious levels during the busy summer months.
“The council has been assured by the highway’s department that this won’t be the case but the members of the planning committee have now asked for Broad Street to be turned into a one-lane road instead.
“The councillors feel this would not only help slow the traffic down, but also create more room for people parked on Broad Street to get out of their cars safely.
“It is still important to the councillors that people can cross the road safely, so they have also requested that the pavement by the One Stop shop and the Town Hall is brought out to create a narrow crossing point.”
Members of Welshpool Town Council will meet with Powys County Council’s one-way system review panel on January 9.