Cash for new road crossings

FUNDING has been secured to install pedestrian crossings at a Cardiff junction.

The Welsh Government has confirmed it will give Cardiff council funding to introduce signal-controlled pedestrian crossings at the junction of Penylan Road and Colchester Avenue in Penylan.

It comes after years of campaigning.

One resident who campaigned for more than 10 years was Sue Hurrell, whose daughter Immy uses a wheelchair and finds it extremely difficult to cross the junction.

In November, Sue told the BBC: “Walking about together as a family, it’s difficult to get across the junction, it is safe to do so at certain times but it’s complicated as you have to wait for the lights and the cars.

“There is no proper island in the middle with safety barriers, so the wheelchair doesn’t fit. If Immy doesn’t time her crossing right, she is putting herself at risk.”

The council consulted on these improvements at the end of 2019 and agreed the scheme should proceed after receiving a positive response from residents. However, the council’s bid for funding from the Welsh Government was turned down.

Rodney Berman, Welsh Liberal Democrat councillor for Penylan and Senedd candidate for Cardiff Central, said: “The new signal-controlled crossings will make a huge difference for so many people, including some of our elderly residents.”

The council is expected to install the crossings in the 2021-2022 financial year.