Junction ‘most dangerous’
Yellow lines plea to motorists
A JUNCTION in Llanelli town centre has been dubbed one of the “most dangerous” in the area.
The road layout has come under fire, with one resident saying: “How any pedestrians have not been flattened is beyond me”.
It is the entrance and exit to the Murray Street multi-storey car park, and the surrounding area, which people have serious issue with.
The junction sees cars coming up and down two ramps, while lorries making deliveries in the town centre have to reverse off the street into a another road which runs parallel to the ramps. There is then a fourth entrance and exit the other side of the car park ramps, crammed into a few tens of metres of highway.
Adding to the confusion, passing cars have to avoid vehicles parked on double yellow lines, while also allowing the lorry drivers time to complete the tricky manoeuvre.
Cars exiting the multi-storey car park are also not allowed to turn right onto Murray Street. Instead they have to turn left and use the roundabout to turn back around if they want to go the opposite direction.
In a Facebook post that sparked a debate, Vanessa Parton said: “This has to be the most dangerous part of town. Whoever decided to have a superstore in the middle of town which requires several evening delivery lorries to try to negotiate two bends of almost 90 degrees in reverse?
“The parking is an issue with cars on double yellows along with a continual number of impatient drivers who risk serious injury by trying to pass the reversing lorry. How any pedestrians have not [been] flattened is beyond me. It surely is only a matter of time!”
Reacting to this, Deryk Cundy said: “Might help if the cars parked on the double yellows obeyed the law.”
John Pritchard agreed, commenting: “If the cars didn’t park on double yellow lines the lorry will have enough room.”
Elli ward councillor John Jenkins said: “It is obvious to me that enforcement of the parking restrictions is needed which is a council responsibility, but if anyone is parked causing an obstruction then that is a police matter and I encourage people to call 101 to report.
“It is important that businesses are not prevented from getting deliveries to their stores and I hope common sense will prevail.”
Stephen Pilliner, head of transport and highways at Carmarthenshire Council, said: “Stores and delivery companies are responsible and will make arrangements for a safe system for goods delivery to minimise impact and disruption on the public highway.
“At this location, the situation is not helped by cars parked illegally on yellow lines opposite the junction.
“Double yellow lines are there for a purpose and are actively enforced by our civil enforcement team. We urge drivers to behave responsibly in the interests of public safety.”