‘Council needs to make solving the safety issues a priority‘
PEDESTRIANS and cyclists have described a “nightmare” junction as the “most dangerous” in Canton.
The busy intersection connects Leckwith Road, Wellington Street, Atlas Road and Kitchener Road – major routes that connect Canton to the city centre and other parts of Cardiff.
But residents say only two of the five recognized crossing areas having pedestrian traffic lights.
They also believe the junction is unfit for cyclists because it features a dangerous “pop-up” cycle lane that ends abruptly, leaving riders on the wrong side of the road.
Cardiff Council has confirmed that action will be taken to make the cycle lane permanent but no date has been given. Now residents are calling on the council to make it a priority.
The intersection, close to Kitchener Primary School, Fitzalan High School and Ysgol Gymraeg Pwll Coch is a busy pedestrian route all day.
“Following the correct pedestrian route means a five-minute round trip. No green man means you’re taking a huge risk when crossing,” said Leckwith Road resident Aidan O’Callaghan, 49.
“Every morning from 8am until 10 to 9am, hundreds of kids are walking down the road – it can get quite dangerous,” he added.
But Mr O’Callaghan stressed that it is not just on schooldays that the problems arise.
“Sundays and football days are the worst, it’s chaos,” he said.
Canton Councillor Stephen Cunnah has called for a “complete overhaul of the junction”.
“I see it as the most dangerous junction in Canton – change is long overdue,” he said.
“Parents don’t see their kids walking or cycling to school as an option,” he added.
Canton resident Bernadette Collins says her children, who are now in their 40s, had to navigate the junction when they were at school.
“When they were younger, I always told them to be careful,” she said.
“You have to be careful at what stage they are allowed to be on the junction by themselves,” she added.
Coun Stephen Cunnah, Ms Collins and Mr O’Callaghan agree that the creation of more recognised pedestrian crossings would be the first step to improving road safety on the junction.
Ms Collins, who uses a walking aid to get around and suffers with hearing difficulties, was also frustrated by the lack of time that pedestrians are given to cross at the two recognised crossing spaces.
“Let us get across the crossings – slow the lights down, I’m disabled,” she said.
“This has always been a problem, and I’ve lived here for forty years,” she added.
Coun Cunnah said the junction should be fixed to a similar design standard as seen on Cathays Terrace.
“The way they treated the junctions (on Cathays Terrace) is 10 times better,” he said.
Cardiff Council said: “There are plans to improve crossing facilities at the junction, which will be delivered as part a future cycleway scheme, subject to funding.”
No timeframe was given.
The temporary cycle lane on Wellington Road is also a source of frustration.
The temporary two-way lane was installed on the understanding it would be made permanent. Four years later, the temporary “pop-up” pillars are still in place and the safety issues remain.
“It ends very abruptly leaving cyclists to enter Leckwith Road facing oncoming traffic,” said Coun Cunnah.
Mr O’Callaghan, who uses the lane regularly, said to avoid exiting the junction dangerously many cyclists decide to cut-in onto the pavement.
He thinks an extension of the cycle lane onto Leckwith Road, which has been proposed by Coun. Cunnah, would allow cyclists to emerge from Wellington Street safely.
Drivers are also aware of the danger faced by cyclists approaching Leckwith Road from the adjoining roads.
“I’m always aware of the cyclists emerging (from Wellington Street),” said Royal Mail driver James Clark, 18.
“It’s easy for them to cut-up traffic when joining the main road,” he added.
A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “Any pop-up cycleway that you see in the city will be made permanent, when the permanent scheme receives funding.”
