CALLS to improve safety on the Fingerpost accident blackspot on the A477 trunk road have been made by Pembrokeshire politicians to Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport Ken Skates AM.

MP Simon Hart, AM Angela Burns, County Councillor Tessa Hodgson and members of Pembroke and Cosheston community councils recently met to highlight their concerns.

While a roundabout replacing the existing junction is the preferred option, alternatives including improved lighting and signage are being mooted.

Cllr Hodgson had previously raised the issue with Mr Skates, who replied saying that a three-year speed limit review, covering 600 sites on all Wales’ trunk roads was currently being undertaken.

At the recent meeting, held at Pembroke Town Hall, safety concerns were also raised on the A477 generally in the area, and the MP, AM, and councillors are keen to hear from anyone who has been involved in an accident, or near-miss, on this stretch of road.

Back in 2016, Pembroke Town Council, which has been calling for a roundabout at the Fingerpost, organised a petition, which attracted nearly 600 backers.

The petition was later heard by the National Assembly’s Petitions Committee.

At the December 2016 meeting of the town council, members heard the final road safety report on the fingerpost from the Trunk Road Agency, which said crashes recorded were due to driver error.

It did, however, state there had been an increase in the number of crashes since improvements were made at the junction.

At that meeting, town councillor Jon Nutting gave a stark warning: “Everyone on this council knowns it’s a dangerous junction, everyone in Pembroke that uses it regularly knows it is a dangerous junction. If they refuse to take notice of our concerns we hold them responsible for the next death at that junction; we know there will be another death at that junction in the next five years, someone will die unnecessarily.”

At the recent 2018 meeting, Pembroke town councillor Dennis Evans said: “As a town council we’ve had this on the agenda for at least the last seven years; it’s not as if it’s a new thing that’s suddenly come up.”

On the issue of ‘driver error’, Mr Hart said: “The reason for ‘driver error’ is because the junction is bloody complicated.”

Following the meeting, those present agreed on a further letter being sent to Mr Skates, highlighting the roundabout preference, but also suggesting alternative, cheaper improvements.

Cllr Hodgson wrote: “The stretch of road either side of the Fingerpost would also be improved if there were right-turn refuges for traffic. Data that I have collected indicates that the turning off the A477 to Mutton Hill is a particular hotspot for accidents. There is sufficient width on the verge to widen the road to create a central reservation for traffic turning right.”

Anyone who has experienced an accident, or near-miss, at the Fingerpost and surrounding area may contact Cllr Hodgson, Simon Hart, or Angela Burns, or Cosheston and Pembroke councils.