SAFETY CAMERAS TO ENFORCE A473 COYCHURCH BYPASS

Mobile safety cameras are to enforce the 50mph speed limit on the A473 Coychurch Bypass from 8 August following complaints from local residents about speeds driven by motorists.

Mid & South Wales Safety Camera Partnership has conducted speed surveys on the stretch of road in Bridgend in response to concerns expressed by residents, the police and the council. During one of the surveys a top speed of 80mph was recorded, with 40 people driving at more than 60mph.

Bridgend County Borough Council reduced the speed limit from 70mph to 50mph last year after a spate of accidents. Between July 1999 and June 2004, one person was killed and 98 were injured. There has been one fatal accident since this speed limit reduction.

Phil Davies, manager of Mid & South Wales Safety Camera Partnership, said: “Speed limits are there for everyone’s safety. Some of the speeds we have seen on the Coychurch Bypass are totally unacceptable and are putting innocent road users at risk. People have already lost their lives on this stretch of road and we hope that our mobile camera enforcement will encourage motorists to stick to the limit and help prevent any more deaths and serious injuries.”