Data going down the wrong road

4:36pm Wednesday 16th April 2008

Dear Editor - The First Minister Rhodri Morgan was recently reported as saying he was well aware of the traffic situation in Lower Town Fishguard and discounted the building of a bypass in the near future due to insufficient use.

I have lived in Newport Road for 28 years and the argument that numeric volume applicable to A-rated' roads should still be used when considering bottlenecks such as single lane traffic in both directions on a single highway misrepresents the situation.

Six properties on Newport Road are either being repaired or awaiting repairs following impact damage from vehicles.

Also, the road surface at Fishguard Hillhas been so badly damaged by heavy vehicles. One failed to negotiate it recently, so the police had to close and clear the road to the town square to allow the lorry to use the right hand lane to get up the hill.

Meanwhile both the village and town were gridlocked, as they were again at 9pm by a 50-foot long trailer.

In such instances, the problem is not brought about by the volume of traffic, but by the unsuitability of the road for the type of traffic using it.

Unfortunately for the long suffering residents, the Assembly refers to outdated conditions and data when enquiries are made by our elected representatives.

Peter Sturdgess Springtide, Lower Town, Fishguard.