CALLS have been made for road safety improvements in a Powys village after a cyclist narrowly avoided being hit by an overtaking motorist.
Jess Needham was cycling through Llandinam last Tuesday when she came within centimetres of being struck by a white van which overtook a lorry while passing through the village.
Now Montgomeryshire MS Russell George and Llandinam ward county councillor Karl Lewis have raised calls for the Welsh Government to install a cycling lane through the village between Newtown and Llanidloes.
"It really is an accident waiting to happen," said Jess.
"Some poor cyclist or pedestrian is going to die or get seriously injured on that road soon."
"I was wearing a bright blue coat, yellow leggings and a headtorch strapped to my handlebars.
"The motorist overtook without checking if it was clear or they saw me and figured they would risk my life by almost hitting me at 50mph.
"People drive so recklessly on that section of road."
The road through Llandinam. Picture: Geograph.
Cllr Lewis agreed the A489 and A470 roads needed immediate improvement.
He said: "This road is a high speed dangerous stretch of road which takes in the A489 from Newtown to Caersws railway crossing. Then the A470 comes into play from the Caersws railway crossing through Llandinam and onto Llanidloes.
"The areas of these two roads I have most concern with is the A470 through the village of Llandinam and the road leading from the village of Llandinam onto Llanidloes.
"This section of road as I have previously stated has not changed much since the days of the horse and cart."
The road through Llandinam. Picture: Geograph.
Cllr Lewis warned the traffic issues in the village had only increased in recent years.
"This results in frustrated motorists taking huge risks to overtake by weaving in and out these convoys of vehicles," he said.
"Long slow streams of traffic have cause problems for local businesses with delays on deliveries and an increase of pollution for local residents who live along the A470 and A489.
"To mitigate risks of cyclists getting injured and to encourage more people to take up a healthier life style I believe we need cycle lanes in rural areas such as the Llandinam ward.
The road through Llandinam. Picture: Geograph.
"At the moment Welsh Government is reluctant to even carry out minor improvements to the A470, such as changing the Zebra crossing in Llandinam to a Pelican crossing, installing VAS speed signage which would improve road safety in Llandinam or reviewing the speed limit through Penstrowed on the A489.”
Montgomeryshire MS Russell George added: “Funding for active travel walking and cycling routes is concentrated on built up areas, but this is something that needs to change, and I have previously taken this up with the Welsh Government.
"If we want to encourage people to cycle, then government has a responsibility to make sure we have safe routes.”
The Welsh Government was contacted for a response.
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