Peaceful protest planned over Llanwrtyd traffic lights

People in Llanwrtyd Wells are fed up of traffic lights that were set up in the town on the very first day of 2020 following a road traffic collision – and remain there today. They have been told to expect them to still be there on the first day of 2021 too.

The chaotic incident occurred on New Year’s Day when a car speeding into town from Beulah hurtled into the Premier shop on the town square. It caused substantial damage to the building – leaving visible cracks in it from the roof to the ground.

A complex signal system was installed and remains there 10 months later. Residents were advised that work would be starting around a month ago but little has been done since. And they have now been informed work will not start until 2021 – while suggestions the lights are costing £400 a week to maintain estimate the total cost of the lights so far to be at £17,200.

“The residents of Llanwrtyd Wells have lost patience and had enough,” said town clerk Cheryl Hood – which is why the peaceful protest has been organised for October 23 from 5.30pm.

“We will of course be social distancing and adhering to current legislation.”

Following the crash, which caused substantial damage to the shop and it being deemed unsafe, metal fencing was erected around it, extending out onto the main A483 road. This has led to the road becoming a single lane with lights set up on Beulah Road, Dolecoed Road and Irfon Crescent.

“After numerous emails and phone calls from the town council to our MP Fay Jones, MS Kirsty Williams, Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llewellyn and Dyfed Powys Police, the traffic lights remain and nothing is happening to the building,” said Cheryl.

“The presence of the lights have had a negative effect on the town, even before Covid-19. And even when the lockdown was lifted, no car lingered in town long enough, having had to wait so long at the traffic lights.

“Work was supposed to have started on taking down the front of the building about four weeks ago but apart from the odd day nothing is happening.

“We have now been told that repairs will not start until the New Year. That will be a whole year we have had these traffic lights and we have been told they are costing £400 per week.”

In addition to anger caused by a lack of action, people in Llanwrtyd are also concerned about near misses caused by people not adhering to the signals, as well as being unable to use the shop – it has always been the main amenity for grocery shopping in Llanwrtyd, with Coop stores in neighbouring Builth Wells and Llandovery more than 15 minutes’ drive and Tesco in Llandrindod Wells almost half an hour away.

“This will be a peaceful protest, we just want to bring attention to the fact that these lights have been here too long,” added Cheryl.

“The repairs are taking too long. The town council would like to have a meeting with all concerned parties; the shop owner, their insurers, highways, Kirsty Williams and Fay Jones, in an effort to expedite matters.

“We have lost the use of the shop and some road users do not adhere to the traffic lights, causing near misses. It’s an accident waiting to happen.”

One resident, Geraint Watkins, has even written a poem about the debacle – titled ‘Disco Lights’.

Disco Lights – by Geraint Watkins

The disco lights are still in town

Appeared one week and never went back

Looking for an active party

Looking for some craic

They have seen some sights

In their ten months here

Deliveries of casks of the locals beer

And strangers in their masks

Greens not envious and red won't stop

Looking at amber squeezed between them

Sitting on the fence of no consequence

No clearly defined meaning

In the middle of the town the spiders found a crack

A place that it calls home

Where once upon a time in the street below

Mankind used to roam

So the traffic has stopped for a minute or two

Till the windows start ratting once more

As the disco lights lure all the visitors through

And this ghost town is peaceful once more