Key meeting over Red Bank safety leaves officials frustrated

The terrifying CCTV of a car smashing into a house on Red Bank recently was just the latest in a long list of incidents that has highlighted safety issues on Red Bank, leading to a high-level meeting of officials.

Welshpool county councillor, Graham Breeze, called the meeting in the aftermath of the incident that resulted in injuries for both the driver and an occupant in the house that was struck.

It has also become renowned as a spot where wing mirrors are damaged due to the narrowing of the road.

But he emerged from the meeting still frustrated with representatives from Powys Council Highways, Welshpool Town Council and Dyfed Powys Police all unable to identify a clear way forward to make the road safer. 

“My reason for calling the meeting was down to a number of speeding incidents highlighted to me by residents and members of the public combined with the number of HGV drivers ignoring the advisory signs warning that the road is unsuitable for such vehicles,” said Cllr Breeze.

“I felt there was a general agreement that there were problems and a number of options were thrown into the mix by those attending, such as closing off the link to the Welshpool-Guilsfield road, one-way systems, traffic calming, speed checks, electronic speed checking, improved warning signage, community speed watch days and more.

“The repercussions of the suggestions were highlighted and it was also made clear that there were issues over enforcing speed restrictions in the area that had been highlighted by the GoSafe Speed Camera Organisation.

“I also pointed out that large areas at the top of Red Bank were earmarked for housing development in the new Local Development Plan which would present additional problems both during the construction stage and following habitation of the new properties with the increased number of vehicles potentially seeking access via Red Bank.

“I think we all left the meeting more than a little frustrated that there was no immediate solution to the problems but encouraged that all involved were keen to ensure the safety of the residents of Welshpool.”

Welshpool Town Council will be discussing the matter at its full monthly meeting on Wednesday night.

PICTURE: The recent incident on Red Bank led to the road being closed for several hours.