Sir,
For the last 14 months, with the assistance of Nick Ainger MP and Jameston Community Association, I have continually campaigned for a footpath and a lowering of the speed limit from 60 mph to 40 mph on the A4139 from Jameston village to Biercross, in order to help reduce the risk of an accident to parents and children who have to walk to and from Manorbier VC School.
Throughout this period I have met with strong opposition from Pembrokeshire County Council and Dyfed-Powys Police to the lowering of the speed limit, the reasons given that you cannot have a 40 mph speed limit that would not be respected and obeyed by motorists and other road users and must be self-enforcing. Therefore, because of the above reasons, both PCC and Dyfed-Powys Police would not support a 40 mph lower speed limit.
Therefore, you can imagine my anger and sheer frustration when I read in this week's Observer and see that the very same officials of PCC and Dyfed-Powys Police have decided to impose a reduction from the present 60 mph to a new 50 mph speed limit on the same A4139 road on the Penally bypass.
Does this mean that the same road users will respect the new speed limit at Penally, but would completely ignore speed restriction some two-and-a-half miles further down the road? I think not.
Throughout this campaign there has been a total lack of respect from PCC towards the parents, children and residents of Jameston village concerning their fears over road safety issues. I personally will have no regrets when Mr. Huw Roberts leaves PCC. I sincerely hope that the new highways director, when appointed, will come equipped with a far better common-sense approach to road safety in our communities than his predecessor.
I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Penally Community Council and their county councillor for their pro-active attitude to a reduction in speed in their community.
I just wish our county councillor had the same vision and common sense and foresight for the people of Jameston village.
A. L. Wales,
North Norton,
Manorbier.