Newtown traffic roundabout could return

A PILOT PROJECT to reinstate a roundabout in Newtown - controversially replaced by traffic lights - could be in place later this month in a bid to keep traders in the town, MP Glyn Davies said today.

Waiting years for a new by-pass could be too late for many business owners, who claim they will be driven out by worsening congestion.

The MP's move comes after a new set of traffic lights along Pool Road was installed to replace the roundabout earlier this year when the Tesco superstore opened.

But businesses, residents and councillors claim congestion has got even worse since the lights were put in.

Mr Davies said: "We need to come up with a short-term solution for the town - businesses can't afford to wait for a bypass and many will have closed or moved away by the time it is built.

"I'm hoping to set up a pilot project aimed at re-instating the roundabout which was replaced by traffic lights earlier this year.

"But to do this I will need the support of businesses and residents."

The Montgomeryshire MP added: "I still want a by-pass to be built but at the moment it's a medium term solution and we need to be looking at making things better a lot sooner."

Mr Davies said he was hoping to meet with Newtown business leaders on September 24 in an attempt to kickstart the project.

He added: "The new traffic light layout was poorly designed and has delivered government-sponsored chaos.

"Replacing the new traffic lights with a roundabout should be trialled on a pilot basis. We cannot just allow the current chaos to continue."

Councillor Russell George for Newtown, said he would also be launching a petition calling for a bypass sooner rather than later.

He said residents had been calling for the bypass to solve the town's traffic chaos for more than 40 years and he would be supporting Mr Davies when he met with traders.

Councillor George said: "I propose to arrange a protest to the Welsh Assembly, to include business people and residents of Mid Wales that are being effected by this mess.

"I also want to take a petition and my aim is get over 10,000 people to sign it."

By Anwen Evans