“Could we please have acknowledgement of our request for support and arrange a consultation as soon as possible to discuss the merits of this proposal?
As a summary of the proposal, you may be aware that Carmarthen Street has been closed for over a year now due to building work taking place at the Shire Hall. During this time the local businesses and residents in the area have noticed the positive effects of closing the road to through traffic and a petition was set up in September 2020 requesting that the road remained closed permanently. This was signed by just under 300 people with many comments citing safety concerns especially for children and less abled people due to the narrowness of the road / pavement.
Also, there have been many positive comments from local businesses needing to increase footfall especially after this dreadful Covid period, notably how the road closure had made the town much more pleasant for residents and attractive to tourists. With the redevelopment of the old Market Hall at the top of Carmarthen Street, it really does make sense to look at changing the vehicle access use along the road.
We (the residents of Carmarthen Street) have been lobbying local County Councilor Edward Thomas and the highways department since October 2020 in trying to arrange a consultation with us on how we can move this proposal forward and to date we have made very little progress.
We feel let down by the Council in the lack of acknowledgement and support for this proposal put forward by the residents and businesses in the town and ask that as the executive board member responsible for Highways you provide us with an answer to the above question.”
Minutes:
“Could we please have acknowledgement of our request for support and arrange a consultation as soon as possible to discuss the merits of this proposal? As a summary of the proposal, you may be aware that Carmarthen Street has been closed for over a year now due to building work taking place at the Shire Hall. During this time the local businesses and residents in the area have noticed the positive effects of closing the road to through traffic and a petition was set up in September 2020 requesting that the road remained closed permanently. This was signed by just under 300 people with many comments citing safety concerns especially for children and less abled people due to the narrowness of the road / pavement.
Also, there have been many positive comments from local businesses needing to increase footfall especially after this dreadful Covid period, notably how the road closure had made the town much more pleasant for residents and attractive to tourists. With the redevelopment of the old Market Hall at the top of Carmarthen Street, it really does make sense to look at changing the vehicle access use along the road.
We (the residents of Carmarthen Street) have been lobbying local County Councilor Edward Thomas and the highways department since October 2020 in trying to arrange a consultation with us on how we can move this proposal forward and to date we have made very little progress.
We feel let down by the Council in the lack of acknowledgement and support for this proposal put forward by the residents and businesses in the town and ask that as the executive board member responsible for Highways you provide us with an answer to the above question.”
Response by Councillor Hazel Evans, Executive Board Member for Environment:-
“Thank you Mr Kyle for your question I have noted your comments and concerns. I have visited the site and considered the issues you have raised.
I am given to understand that the lower section of Carmarthen Street dates back to medieval times and has, as you mention, narrow road and footways. In this context I can understand the rationale behind your suggestion of permanently closing the road to traffic and this does align with the County Council’s wider transport objectives of encouraging more walking and cycling in towns. However, it is also important to understand that Carmarthen Street is part of a wider highway network and there needs to be an appreciation that interventions on one part of the network have implications elsewhere, so a balanced and holistic view needs to be taken.
I have discussed these implications with officers and I share a number of concerns including:
· The lack of adequate and safe turning facilities at the upper end of Carmarthen Street;
· The extended route local traffic would have to use;
· The additional pressures of diverting traffic on the New Road / A483 / Crescent Road crossroads;
· The impact on businesses on the upper section of Carmarthen Street;
· How a prohibition of driving would be enforced given the need to maintain access to service the buildings along Carmarthen Street and impact of this traffic to pedestrians;
· The impact a closure would have when traffic is diverted off Rhosmaen Street.
If you include the option of a by-pass this would also affect choices.
All of these issues need to be assessed and considered in relation to the benefits a prohibition of driving would bring and Cllr. Edward Thomas will be included as the local member. All proposals need to be evaluated and modelled and only then would we be able to go out to consultation when there are workable options. I have asked Officers to investigate these issues in more detail and to prepare a report of their findings together with any appropriate recommendations for consideration and discussions. I will ask Officers to make a copy of the report available to you when it is completed.”
There was no supplementary question.