Further delays in Dinas Powys bypass plan deemed a 'disgrace'

Further delays in releasing a plan to improve transport in Dinas Powys have been called a "disgrace" by community councillors.

Residents of the village, on a key road between Barry and Cardiff, have been waiting since the spring for a key Vale of Glamorgan council report on the Dinas Powys bypass and other potential transport improvements.

In September Councillor Peter King, cabinet member for neighbourhood services and transport, said the WelTAG Stage Two report would be published in November.

Essential for getting funding, the report will set out the business case for the transport improvements to the Welsh Government. It was not published last month. The council has said the latest delay was due to the need for "further analysis of traffic data".

Chris Franks, a Plaid Cymru community councillor, called the latest delay a "disgrace" and said several main junctions in Dinas Powys urgently need improving.

He said: "This important report was supposed to have been available last June or July. Then excuses were made that it would be ready in November. So now December is here, where is this report?

"This study is much more than the issue of a bypass — there are so many poor quality junctions to consider. There is a need for traffic-calming, and improved bus and train services will be required once the pandemic is over."

He pointed to three difficult junctions in the village: Millbrook Road with Pen-Y-Turnpike Road; Leckwith Road with Pen-Y-Turnpike Road; and Station with Cardiff Road.

He added: "We think they've lost interest in the project. They've given priority on the road up to the M4, that seems to be their priority at the moment.

"But this affects the thousands of motorists who are driving to and from Barry every day. It serves thousands of Barry residents."

The council has said more details about the plans should be revealed this month, and a decision on the improvements could be made as soon as February.

A Vale of Glamorgan council spokesperson said: "The council is now due to receive the draft WelTAG Stage 2 plus report 'Improvements to Transport in Dinas Powys report' from the consultants undertaking the work on this project in December 2020.

"The delay has been caused by the need for further analysis related to the recent traffic modelling data which has been collected for the project. Local members are due to be briefed on the draft report on December 15.

"It is anticipated that the review group for the project will meet prior to the Christmas break and, depending on their technical views, a report presented to cabinet in February 2021."