Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, is pleased that there is headway being made towards the improvement of the Eastbound A55 carriageway at the headland of Penmaen-bach point.
Back in January it was unearthed that there had been 25 collisions on the Eastbound A55 carriageway during this financial year (23/24). There has also been concern about the National Cycle Route, where there has been 9 recorded incidents where the crash barrier/aluminium railings separating the cycle route from the carriageway has been damaged.
During accidents, a contraflow system is necessary, but implementing one poses its own challenges with the system taking three hours to implement, and often it cannot be implemented outside normal working hours, such as on weekends. Opting not to use the contraflow system, in favour of diversions along the A470 and A5, results in serious congestion over the Sychnant Pass.
To tackle the safety concerns, Mrs Finch-Saunders is working with Penmaenmawr Town Council. This has led to Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Climate Change, committing to:
- assess if the criteria has been met to install Average Speed Enforcement
- carry out a permanent repair to the parapet wall following the tragic incident in October 2023
- implement a scheme of road markings to improve speed compliance and driver behaviour
- undertake a preliminary investigation report to explore potential engineering solutions to improve safety around Penmaenbach Headland, which will include a review of the safety barrier system
- arrange for officials to enter into discussions with Conwy County Borough Council to explore options to improve resilience to prevent recurrence of problems on the Sychnant Pass
Janet has commented on this saying:
“The A55 at Penmaen-bach poses risks to road users, pedestrians, and cyclists. The current contraflow system is not fit for purpose and the use of alternative routes such as the A470, A55 diversion is not practical either.
“However, I am pleased to see that progress has been made on this. Following my letter to Lee Waters, Deputy Minister for Climate Change, where I outlined the dangers of Penmaen-bach point, the Welsh Government have now responded that they are committed to tackling this issue.
“Their suggestions have included the use of average speed cameras along this stretch of the A55 and a preliminary investigation report to explore potential engineering solutions.
“I have also secured a commitment from the Welsh Government that they will work with Conwy County Borough Council to tackle the serious disruption caused to the Sychnant Pass.
“Going forward, I am due to meet the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent and Mayor and Town Clerk of Penmaenmawr Town Council in order to work across agency to find workable solutions.
“I am extremely pleased of all the work we have done so far and the level of cooperation across the Welsh Parliament and Local Government. Let’s keep working together and make our roads a safer place for all users.”
ENDS
Document:
Letter from Lee Waters MS
Photo:
Janet Finch-Saunders MS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, Aelod o Senedd Cymru dros Aberconwy, yn falch bod yna gynnydd yn cael ei wneud tuag at wella ffordd yr A55 tua'r Dwyrain ym mhen Pwynt Penmaen-bach.
Yn ôl ym mis Ionawr canfuwyd bod 25 o wrthdrawiadau wedi bod ar gerbytffordd yr A55 tua'r dwyrain yn ystod y flwyddyn ariannol hon (23/24). Bu pryder hefyd am y Llwybr Beicio Cenedlaethol, lle cofnodwyd 9 digwyddiad lle mae'r rhwystrau diogelwch/rheiliau alwminiwm sy'n gwahanu'r llwybr beicio o'r gerbytffordd wedi'u difrodi.
Pan fo damweiniau’n digwydd, mae angen system wrthlif, ond mae gweithredu un yn gosod ei heriau ei hun gyda'r system yn cymryd tair awr i'w gweithredu, ac yn aml ni ellir ei gweithredu y tu allan i oriau gwaith arferol, fel ar benwythnosau. Mae dewis peidio â defnyddio'r system wrthlif, o blaid gwyriadau ar hyd yr A470 a'r A5, yn arwain at dagfeydd difrifol dros Fwlch Sychnant.
Er mwyn mynd i'r afael â'r pryderon diogelwch, mae Mrs Finch-Saunders yn cydweithio â Chyngor Tref Penmaenmawr. Mae hyn wedi arwain at ymrwymiadau gan Lee Waters AS, y Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd, i:
- asesu a yw'r meini prawf wedi'u bodloni i osod Gorfodi Cyflymder Cyfartalog
- atgyweirio'r wal parapet yn barhaol yn dilyn y digwyddiad trasig ym mis Hydref 2023
- gweithredu cynllun marciau ffordd i wella cydymffurfiaeth â chyflymder ac ymddygiad gyrwyr
- ymgymryd ag adroddiad ymchwilio rhagarweiniol i archwilio datrysiadau peirianyddol posibl i wella diogelwch o amgylch Pentir Penmaen-bach, a fydd yn cynnwys adolygiad o'r system rhwystrau diogelwch
- trefnu i swyddogion drafod â Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy i archwilio opsiynau i wella gwytnwch er mwyn atal problemau rhag digwydd eto ar Fwlch Sychnant
Dyma a ddywedodd Janet am hyn:
“Mae'r A55 ym Mhenmaen-bach yn peri risgiau i ddefnyddwyr y ffordd, cerddwyr a beicwyr. Nid yw'r system wrthlif bresennol yn addas i'r diben ac nid yw'r defnydd o lwybrau amgen fel dargyfeiriadau A470, A55 yn ymarferol chwaith.
“Fodd bynnag, rwy'n falch o weld bod cynnydd wedi'i wneud ar hyn. Yn dilyn fy llythyr at Lee Waters, y Dirprwy Weinidog Newid Hinsawdd, lle amlinellais beryglon pwynt Penmaen-bach, mae Llywodraeth Cymru bellach wedi ymateb ei bod wedi ymrwymo i fynd i'r afael â'r mater hwn.
“Mae eu hawgrymiadau wedi cynnwys defnyddio camerâu cyflymder cyfartalog ar hyd y rhan hon o'r A55 ac adroddiad ymchwiliad rhagarweiniol i archwilio datrysiadau peirianyddol posibl.
“Rwyf wedi sicrhau hefyd ymrwymiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru y bydd yn cydweithio â Chyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy i fynd i'r afael â'r tarfu difrifol a achoswyd ym Mwlch Sychnant.
“Wrth symud ymlaen, rwyf i fod i gwrdd ag Asiant Cefnffyrdd Gogledd a Chanolbarth Cymru a Maer a Chlerc Tref Cyngor Tref Penmaenmawr er mwyn gweithio ar draws asiantaethau i ganfod atebion ymarferol.
“Rwy'n hynod falch o'r holl waith rydyn ni wedi'i wneud hyd yma a lefel y cydweithrediad ar draws Senedd Cymru a Llywodraeth Leol. Gadewch i ni barhau i weithio gyda'n gilydd a gwneud ein ffyrdd yn lle mwy diogel i bob defnyddiwr.”
DIWEDD
Dogfen:
Llythyr gan Lee Waters MS
Ffotograff:
Janet Finch-Saunders AS
