We can attest to regular accidents and frequent dangerous incidents while turning off or onto the main highway, and pedestrians and other vulnerable road users can also provide evidence of serious risks faced when using this stretch of road.

The road is subject to the National speed limit of 60 mph, however there is considerable strength of feeling locally that this is inappropriate because this has given rise to excessive speeds in relation to the risks posed by the presence of four road junctions and a number of pedestrian crossing areas and accesses to private residences, risks that are not necessarily obvious to drivers passing through.

The Highway Authority has recognised the hazardous nature of this stretch by providing street lighting at the Rhiwlas and main Pentir junctions and along the path between Pentir and Rhyd y Groes. Also a red strip has been painted in the middle of the road bounded by dotted white lines adjacent to Rhyd y Groes (which warns motorists to overtake only when they deem it to be safe) and an “ARAF/SLOW” sign painted on the road in this area. In addition, a traffic island has been constructed at the Rhiwlas junction. They have, however resisted any move to reduce the speed limit along this stretch, citing as a reason the lack of support from North Wales Police.

We are aware that the Welsh Assembly Government requires Highways Authorities to review speed limits on all of their A & B roads, and to implement any necessary changes, by 31st Dec 2014 in accordance with its guidance (Circular 24/2009 “Setting Local Speed Limits in Wales”). The guidance states that… “speed limits play a fundamental role in effective speed management designed to encourage road users to adopt appropriate and safe speeds. They are a key indicator of the nature and risks posed by the road environment to both motorised and non-motorised road users. Speed limits should, therefore, be evidence led and seek to reinforce people’s assessment of what is a safe speed to travel, encouraging self-compliance and not being seen by drivers as a target speed at which to drive in all circumstances”.

When considering the costs and benefits of changing a local speed limit the guidance states that the Authority should assess:

1. Conditions and facilities for vulnerable road users
2. The level of community severance by moving traffic
3. Potential collision and casualty savings
4. The level of public anxiety
5. The environmental impact and traffic flow and emissions
6. Journey time reliability
7. The cost of associated engineering and maintenance
8. The cost and visual impact of signing etc.
9. The practicalities of enforcement

We can provide evidence gathered from an extensive recent campaign to assess the opinions of the residents of Rhiwlas and Pentir/Rhyd y Groes which will assist in making a cost benefit analysis.

Over a three-week period in November/December 2011, all of the properties in these communities were visited to gather signatures for a petition asking for a reduction in the speed limit on the stretch of A244 in question. Generally households were visited only once. Where the occupants were available, the petition was discussed and they were given the opportunity to sign. They were also asked for any comments or experiences relating to accidents of dangerous occurrences on this stretch of road, and whether (if they agreed that the speed limit should be reduced) it should be reduced to 30, 40 or 50 mph.

We collected a total of 320 signatures for the petition, which represents 44% of the estimated maximum target population.

Our evidence for the factors to be considered, gleaned both from the experience of gathering signatures for the petition and from statements from a large percentage of local residents can be categorised as follows:

1. Conditions and facilities for vulnerable road users

• Many local residents are reluctant to walk or cycle between Rhiwlas/Pentir/Rhyd y Groes because of the threat from the proximity of fast moving traffic.
• Signage for two of the four junctions has recently been slightly improved by provision of a yellow background to the junction warning signs; however this remains ineffective as demonstrated by the continuing incidence of dangerous occurrences at these junctions.
• There is no junction warning signage for the Rhiwlas junction
• Footpath crossing points are not clearly indicated.
• Extensive use of this stretch of road by cyclists and horse riders in not recognised.

2. The level of community severance by moving traffic

• The community of Pentir comprises two adjacent settlements – Pentir itself, clustered around the square (17 dwellings plus a pub and church), and Rhyd y Groes, some 400 meters to the east and on the other side of the A4244, consisting of 22 dwellings. There are also a number of farms and other detached houses associated with this community. It is clear that the A4244 divides the community and acts as a deterrent to social interaction. Pedestrians from Rhyd-y-Groes and Rhiwlas wishing to visit the church or pub, or catch the bus service to Bangor are obliged to cross the road. Likewise, residents of Pentir wishing to walk to school, or visit Rhiwlas village hall, are obliged to cross the road
• A higher percentage of Pentir/Rhyd y Groes (90%) respondents wished to have a limit of at most 40 mph than those of Rhiwlas (63%), unsurprisingly reflecting a greater level of concern in the communities most immediately impacted by the A4244.
• The recent establishment of the Parchu Pentir Respect group under the Tidy Towns initiative has highlighted the need to bring the disparate community of Pentir/Rhyd y Groes together. Some of the group’s activities, such as litter picking and bulb planting involve working on the verges of the main A4244, where fast moving traffic makes conditions hazardous for participants

3. Potential collision and casualty savings

• The number of collisions reported to the Police and resulting in injury on this stretch is relatively low, however we are aware that there have been fatalities on adjoining stretches, also subject to the National speed limit. A significant proportion of responders to our petition could describe personal experiences of accidents or dangerous incidents (“near misses”) on this stretch. (see appended comments)

4. The level of public anxiety

• Everyone interviewed on the doorstep was enthusiastically supportive of the campaign to reduce the speed limit (except for one individual who claimed to “enjoy speeding”!).
• A significant number of signatories of the petition expressed the opinion that that the four road junctions were dangerous for those exiting or entering due to the prevailing speed of traffic on the main road.
• All respondents were in favour of a reduction in speed limit. Overall, approximately 78% of those respondents who expressed a preference wanted the speed limit reduced to 40 mph at most (4% in favour of 30 mph and 74% of 40 mph), the remaining 22% would like to see it reduced to 50 mph

5. The environmental impact and traffic flow and emissions

• A number of people have reported reluctance to walk between Rhyd y Groes and Pentir and between Rhiwlas and Pentir. This results in an increased number of unnecessary short journeys by car.
• A reduction in speed limit would self evidently be of benefit environmentally in terms of fuel consumption, noise levels etc.

6. Journey time reliability

• Statistics obtained from the Highway Authority show that the average speed of traffic along this stretch of road is currently 49.9 mph. The WAG guidance indicates that speed limits should now reflect the average current speeds. Consequently the imposition of a 50 mph limit should have minimal impact on journey times. Reducing the speed from the current average of 50 mph to 40 mph along this 1.2Km stretch would increase journey time by a maximum of 13 seconds.

7. The cost of associated engineering and maintenance and the cost and visual impact of signing etc.

• Whilst we acknowledge that this area is beyond our expertise to evaluate accurately, it is worth noting that the guidance from WAG recognises.. “that In order to influence driven speeds to below a new lower local limit it is important that the limit is signed correctly and consistently. Any new limit should also be accompanied by education and, where appropriate, effective engineering changes to the road itself”. We envisage that this could include such initiatives as strategically placed double white lines (especially in the vicinity of the Hen Gapel/Rhyd y Groes junction) and rumble strips. There may therefore be some substantial costs in this respect. Additional, but probably more costly measures, would comprise widening the highway at the junctions in order to install traffic islands and refuge turning lanes.

9. The practicalities of enforcement

• According to current information (see above), the mean speed of traffic along this stretch of road is 49.9 mph, and the 85 percentile is 57 mph. The guidance from WAG states that speed limits should be based on mean speeds, rather than (as was previously the case) the 85 percentile. Enforcement of a 50 mph limit along this stretch should not be impractical as this represents the current average speed of traffic. Enforcement of a 40 mph limit may require some initial effort and cost in terms of signage, education, and engineering.

It should be noted that our campaign has made us aware of similar concerns in adjacent communities, such as Glasinfryn and Llanddeiniolen, about the inappropriateness of a 60 mph limit on the A4244 in general.

Another issue that has come to light is the use of the short stretch of B road through Carfan as a short cut by fast moving traffic using the A4244. This lane is identified by SatNav technology as the “fastest route” for journeys along this stretch, resulting in relatively high volumes of traffic moving at fast speeds along this rural road. (see appended comments).