A new 20mph speed limit goes live today, Monday 28 February, in some areas of Flintshire as part of a Welsh Government scheme to reduce the speed limit in residential areas from 30mph to 20mph.
The area covers Buckley, Drury, Burntwood, Alltami, New Brighton, Mynydd Isa, and Bryn Baal and follows an extensive period of informal consultations with the local communities as well as the undertaking of the required statutory consultation.
The implementation of 20mph speed limits will greatly improve road safety within residential areas as well as encouraging the uptake of Active modes of travel which will complement the Council's aspiration for a low carbon integrated sustainable transport network across the County.
Work has begun on the first phase of an active travel route in Treowen, Newtown.
Identified following previous consultations on the county's Active Travel Network Maps, the route will improve walking and cycling facilities on the North side of Heol Treowen from Treowen Primary School towards Dolfor Road.
The pavement will be widened to become a shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians. This will also improve the surface of the existing path and increase safety for all users, particularly for families and pupils going to and from school. Funded by the Welsh Government, this is the first phase of a larger scheme that aims to link up to other active travel routes in the town.
The Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council has praised the hardworking staff who worked around the clock over the weekend to protect the community during the recent storms Cllr. Philippa Marsden said, “Our dedicated workforce braved some of the worst conditions we have seen in recent years to support and protect the community and I would like to thank each and every one of them for their efforts.” “Teams from various services including highways, parks, housing, waste, public protection, social care and catering, went that extra mile and I’m sure the whole community will join me in recognising their amazing efforts. This is an example of Team Caerphilly at its best and I am incredibly proud of everyone concerned.” The council’s emergency response included:
Dealing with 90 felled trees
Managing 25 road closures to remove obstructions
Responding to over 400 calls to the out-of-hours helpline
Dealing with major incidents
Continuously inspecting and clearing 226 high risk culverts
Responding to gully blockages and flooding to the Caerphilly roads network
Cllr Marsden added, “I’m sure that our swift and effective response over recent days provides reassurance to the whole community that we have a dedicated and capable workforce who are ready to respond whatever the weather.”
With the forecast of Storm Eunice, the First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford has said, "We are working very closely with national agencies, local authorities and the emergency services to prepare for the incoming storm Eunice.
"A red warning has been issued for much of south Wales from 07.00 tomorrow, which means there is a danger to life. Amber warnings will be in place from early Friday morning for the rest of the country.
"We are expecting significant disruption to travel - all trains in Wales will be cancelled on Friday - so please think carefully and only travel tomorrow if absolutely necessary.
To promote the Fatal 5 message, schools, colleges and youth organisations in Wales were invited to devise, perform and record a short film that will warn of the dangers and consequences of drink/drug driving, speed, careless driving, not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone whilst driving.
We can now announce that Tomos Bowie, Pembrokeshire College has been chosen as the winner of the latest competition and Ellie Bartlett's film was highly commended.
Pembrokeshire college will receive £250 along with a commemorative plaque.
This week sees the start of the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) 'National Using a Mobile Phone Whilst Driving Operation'.
Officers from the four Welsh police forces and GoSafe will be working with partners across Wales to educate road users on the risks of using a mobile phone while driving and encouraging the minority who choose risk over safety to make the safer choice.
The RAC Report on Motoring has repeatedly recorded that the use of mobile phones while driving has been the top concern for motorists in recent years.
This comes as no surprise when research shows motorists using their mobile phone while driving have poorer lane discipline and take longer to react to hazards; risking the safety of all road users.
We are asking drivers to make safety their first choice when driving, and to resist the temptation to look at and use their mobile phones for calls, texts, music playlists, social media, sat-nav or any other distracting apps.
Just like wearing a seatbelt at the start of a journey is second nature, please turn your mobile off at the start of every journey. Or, place your mobile in a signal blocking pouch or out of reach in your glove compartment. You can even set up your mobile to automatically send a message to anyone who calls or texts you informing them you are driving and will contact them as soon as you have reached your destination.
Superintendent Clark Jones-John said: “Driving and using a mobile phone do not mix. It is dangerous and could end in disaster. While driving our focus should only be on the road and our driving environment. By putting our mobile phones aside for the duration of a journey we will be playing our part in keeping our roads safe.”
The aim is to make Welsh roads safer for everyone and through educating road users on the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving and encouraging more people to think - 'Is that call or text really that important?' – we hope that more people will stand up for hanging up.
We are delighted to announced the winners of the recent Road Safety Wales Poster Competition!
When we’re walking, cycling or scooting to school, or when we’re out with our friends in the community, we want to be able to get there safely without being hurt by a driver who is drunk or has taken drugs.
We also want our family to stay safe if they’re driving, so we need to let people know that driving when drunk or after taking drugs is dangerous and could really hurt someone.
Gwent Police officers were back aboard an unmarked HGV last month as part of an operation to crack down on motoring offences on the M4.
Op Tramline involved officers driving an unmarked HGV cab to identify and film unsafe driving behaviour. The HGV is a useful tool, giving officers an elevated position to identify offences such as using a mobile phone while driving and not wearing a seatbelt.
Drivers seen committing an offence were then stopped by roads policing officers.
Bus passengers travelling across Newport during March will receive free travel thanks to a new pilot scheme being funded by the Welsh Government.
The scheme, which is being trialled to encourage people to make more sustainable and greener travel choices, will be available all day, every day throughout March, on bus services across Newport’s local authority.
The scheme has been facilitated by the Burns Delivery Board, set up to deliver the 58 recommendations of the Burns Commission which focused on providing people living and working in south east Wales with alternatives to private car use.
A new road crossing is to be installed near a primary school in Cwmbran as part of the Safer Routes in Communities initiative.
Work is due to begin today, Monday 7 February on the new toucan crossing on Thornhill Road, close to Woodlands Primary School in Thornhill.
The majority of the road construction work is planned for a four week period around the half term holidays. During the half term itself, the road will be closed to traffic during the working day for a week while the raised platform is being constructed, however it is usually possible to open the road to traffic each evening after working hours. This is preparation work for the lights themselves which will be installed shortly afterwards and due to start operating in April.
A new 20mph speed limit goes live today, Monday 28 February, in some areas of Flintshire as part of a Welsh Government scheme to reduce the speed limit in residential areas from 30mph to 20mph.
Work has begun on the first phase of an active travel route in Treowen, Newtown.
The Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council has praised the hardworking staff who worked around the clock over the weekend to protect the community during the recent storms
With the forecast of Storm Eunice, the First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford has said, "We are working very closely with national agencies, local authorities and the emergency services to prepare for the incoming storm Eunice.
To promote the Fatal 5 message, schools, colleges and youth organisations in Wales were invited to devise, perform and record a short film that will warn of the dangers and consequences of drink/drug driving, speed, careless driving, not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile phone whilst driving. 
This week sees the start of the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) 'National Using a Mobile Phone Whilst Driving Operation'.
Gwent Police officers were back aboard an unmarked HGV last month as part of an operation to crack down on motoring offences on the M4.
Bus passengers travelling across Newport during March will receive free travel thanks to a new pilot scheme being funded by the Welsh Government.
A new road crossing is to be installed near a primary school in Cwmbran as part of the Safer Routes in Communities initiative.