Crossing goes live in Pant after three-year wait

More than 10,000 vehicles travel through Pant every day along the A483, the main link from north to South Wales.

Residents have campaigned for decades for a bypass for both Pant and neighbouring Llanymynech, but despite it being put in the roads budget more than once, finances have always prevented the road being built.

So about three years ago the parish council mounted a campaign for short term safety measure until a bypass could be constructed.

This week one of those safety measures, the pelican crossing, was finally switched on – although it was installed in March.

Councillor Dilys Gaskill from the parish council said she had been delighted to drive through the village on Tuesday and see the lights in action.

"The bags have been taken off the lights, the electric has been wired up and everything now seems to be working."

However she said it had been an exasperating wait.

"We finally got the crossing installed in March and were thrilled.

"We waited and waiting and nothing happened. When we contacted the Highways Agency it was explained that although the crossing was in, we then had to wait for the telecommunications system that works the lights to be wired up.

"We began to wonder whether they would ever be turned on."

Councillor Gaskill said she was pleased that the crossing would be in use before the bank holiday traffic, which will see thousands more vehicles pour through the village and into Wales and the coast on Friday and Saturday before returning on Monday.

"It is also good that the crossing will be working when the children return to school in a fortnight," she said.

"The crossing still needs some tweeks," she added.