Council defends road changes following gridlock claims
Ted Peskett, local democracy reporter
A local authority says it hasn’t received any complaints after some drivers raised concerns that changes to a busy road are causing traffic chaos.
Cardiff Council has installed new crossings along Leckwith Road ahead of the opening of the new Fitzalan High School building.
These include two toucan crossings of Leckwith Road and a zebra crossing at Lawrenny Avenue.
Some drivers have pointed out that the road often becomes gridlocked during peak hours, like rush hour and school pick-up and drop-off times.
Cardiff Council said it introduced the crossings to improve the safety of pupils walking to school and added that some parents choosing to park at the nearby Lidl supermarket was resulting in a traffic pinch point and congestion.
Safety
A Cardiff council spokesperson said: “The council hasn’t received any enquiries or complaints about an increase in traffic on Leckwith Road, but new pedestrian crossings have been installed on this road to ensure the safety of pedestrians and school children.
“Lawrenny Avenue is part of the Schools Streets Scheme, so this road is closed during school drop-off and pick-up times to ensure the safety of school children.
“A park & stride is in place at Cardiff City Stadium, which allows parents to park and walk with their children to school.
“Instead of the school children navigating through traffic to cross Leckwith Road, they can now use the new pedestrian crossings to ensure their safety.”
Another school, Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Goch, is located opposite where Fitzalan High School used to be located on Lawrenny Avenue.
Fitzalan High was officially opened on Thursday, November 16.
Construction on the school, which accommodates 1,850 pupils, started in March, 2021.
The Cardiff Council spokesperson added: “Leckwith Road is a very busy area of the city for traffic due to the mix of retail, the stadium, and the school.
“During the early morning rush hour, unfortunately some parents choose to park at Lidl Car Park to drop off their children.
“When they try to leave the car park, it creates a traffic pinch point and congestion.
“Leckwith Road is also directly impacted by the traffic flow on the A4232 (Link Road).
“If there is congestion, or an incident on the Link Road, drivers look to divert off the carriageway onto Leckwith Road to go through Cardiff West.
“This in turn increases the congestion on Leckwith Road.
“The council makes no apologies to ensure the safety of school children and is content that the new scheme improves their safety.”
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The new crossings are brilliant for cycling with the kids. You need the infrastructure in place before people will start to use other options than driving short distances
If you want to experience school pick up grid lock without all the remedial stuff Cardiff has been given come to Aberystwyth. In the last two planning applications made by the Council in the affected area they effectively claimed that there was no traffic or parking problem by using consulting firms based in England who apparently never came and did a traffic survey or car park check. Some folk in ‘the bubble’ seem not to realise just how well served thay are. (Yes I’m a grumpy old git, but then I do get parents parking across my drive)
The roads to Leckwith were gridlocked yesterday, Saturday, when the school was closed. I had to turn back and go home as did many others. Cardiff is a gridlocked basket case. Cardiff Council should be apologising for the lack of public transport that would provide people with a viable alternative to the car. Cycling is clearly not an alternative for most people including the elderly, disabled, vulnerable, sick etc etc.
Both Leckwith Road and Lawrenny Avenue are now 20mph roads, which the Illustrious leader says “ THE TRAFFIC AROUND THEM WILL BE MOVING AT A SPEED THAT DOESN’T CAUSE DANGER TO THEM”. So why the extra crossings? Can’t the pupils wander on the roads with their eyes on their mobile screens and their ears listening only to music from their headphones?
https://twitter.com/PrifWeinidog/status/1699832343492452710?fbclid=IwAR3v__fWuviGfVWlt8RDwOvTtnnJSnaFlYU3q-aiP2WAO17PJjhJaHUltEk
Wait until the new houses are built under Leckwith Bridge. It will
Be another 400 cars each day. Many heading into Cardiff down That same road. Carnage!