Safety measures set to be implemented at a roundabout in Broughton which has seen multiple crashes

The Welsh Government has said it intents to implement safety measures at a Broughton roundabout following a number of crashes. 

Police dealt with another single vehicles collision on Sunday where a car had collided with safety barriers, it prompted a plea from officers asking motorists to take care at the roundabout.  

Damaged safety barriers have been removed following previous collisions but not replaced leaving traffic cones protecting the only pathway into a housing estate from vehicles.

Residents living on the nearby Parc Jasmin estate fear someone will be killed if a car comes off the road and onto the pathway. 

The road is currently an advisory 30mph limit but residents have called for traffic calming measures introduced.

A spokesperson for Parc Jasmin Neighbourhood Watch said “Unfortunately cars are crashing through the safety barrier on a regular basis.

Vehicles travel at excessive speed from the A55. Residents are genuinely concerned that it will only be a matter of time before someone is killed.

There is only one entrance/exit into the estate so any residents that are leaving on foot have to walk on that path.

After the last crash, the safety barrier was removed but it has never been replaced. In its place are cones which are not acceptable.

Residents have contacted the agencies responsible for the roundabout and Flintshire council but it appears that nothing is being done.

Alyn and Deeside MP Mark Tami wrote the Welsh Government who have now responded.

The letter states: “Subject to statutory consultation, a permanent 30 mile per hour speed limit on the roundabout and a section of the B5125, and a 40 mile per hour speed limit on the remainder of the B road.”

As a result of ongoing monitoring by the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent (NMWTRA) and correspondence from residents, the Welsh Government says it has “extended the scope of the scheme to include engineering measures to encouraging drivers to slow down as they approach the junction.”

“This design is ongoing, it is the Welsh Governments intention to implement the measures this year. So as well as the reduction in speed limit, there will be engineering measures to address the collisions at the roundabout.”

“The Welsh Government will look to resurface the roundabout approaches in conjunction with the new traffic signage.”

The government goes on to say that barriers are bespoke and “as a result have to be produced to order…  Covid-19 outbreak has caused a delay in production.

As soon as the safety barriers are available, they will be reinstated.”

Vice-Chair of Broughton and Bretton Community Council Ryan McKeown said he welcomes the news of additional safety measures he said the Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency has been too slow to respond.

Cllr McKeown said: “Whilst I’m pleased with the news of the announced Safety Measures, it is quite clear they need to be implemented immediately and a time scale of ‘this year’ is not urgent enough.

For at least 3 years our Community Councillors, County Councillors & Clerk of the Council have highlighted the dangers presented at this roundabout and there have been countless accidents which the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency have been too slow to respond to. Unfortunately 

Whilst the current safety barriers have done their job in preventing significant accident to pedestrians their slow reactions in listening to Council Members and resident concerns has not been good enough, the barriers have been on order for nearly 4 months now and during this time cars have even driven through the Cones that have been placed there as a supposed temporary measure.”