A Mid Wales campaign group leader has become the latest to hit out at claims by Welsh Assembly transport minister Carl Sergeant that traffic problems in Newtown had improved.

Philip Glynn, leader of the Newtown 21st Century Action Group, said that he wanted to invite Mr Sargeant to the town to sit in the daily traffic queues, which he claimed could stretch up to five miles.

Mr Sargeant claimed in a letter to Russell George, Montgomeryshire AM, last week, the situation had improved since the installation of traffic lights.

Mr George described the claims as ‘laughable’ and ‘comical if they weren’t so serious’.

Now Mr Glynn, who has been campaigning against the road system, said that he was stunned by Mr Sargeant’s words.

He said: “I could not believe what I was reading.

“I am pleased that Russell George has answered these claims.

“But as the one who wrote to the First Minister last week about the chaos and misery motorists are being subjected to on a daily basis by the continued operation of these traffic lights, I can assure you they are a nightmare.

“Russell George was elected AM for this area because he conducted a campaign against the problems and I can assure you that the situation he was campaigning about has not changed in 18 months, added Mr Glynn.

“Russell George organised a petition last year which gained over 5,000 signatures, most of the motorists in this area.

“There were queues at the local Morrisons of people wanting to sign the petition.

“The lights themselves are the most badly organised set of lights ever experienced.

“In spite of comments about them nothing has changed in 18 months.

“As the holiday traffic eases down, the school traffic now starts again and long queues will form because of the cursed traffic lights that no one who knows the town wants.

“There is but one cry from anyone connected with the deterioration of Newtown, remove the traffic lights and put the island back now.

“And in case anyone thinks the bypass is going to solve this, of course it will help, but it is not starting until next year. It will take at least a year if not two to build and finish.

“I dread to think what state our town is going to be in then,” said Mr Glynn.