Measures are being trialled in Ceredigion to create safer, inviting towns and to improve traffic flow in those coastal areas.
During the busy summer season of 2020, Ceredigion County Council introduced temporary Safe Zones in coastal towns to allow people to keep a safe social distance in the early stages of the pandemic and to allow businesses to trade outdoors.
As the requirements for social distancing have eased in Wales, there is no longer a need for some of these measures, such as road closures for certain periods of the day, and they will be revoked as part of the Experimental Traffic Order (ETRO) process. However, the extended pavements, parking arrangements and some traffic flow measures have proved beneficial and there is a justification to trial these elements further for the future.
During a Cabinet meeting held virtually on 01 February 2022, Cabinet Members approved two Experimental Traffic Orders (ETRO) for Cardigan, New Quay, Aberaeron and Aberystwyth.
The orders can remain in force for up to 18 months. One will manage the parking restrictions and the other the one-way traffic flows, prohibitions of right/left turn and no entry in the towns.
Councillor Dafydd Edwards, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways, said: “Adjustments were made to our coastal towns during the early stages of the pandemic to ensure people could enjoy Ceredigion safely and responsibly. As we move forward, we can see that some of these initial adjustments are proving beneficial to the layout of our towns to ensure ease of access and safety to everyone who lives and visits these places.”
Officers will now commence the legal process of introducing the ETROs, and members of the public have a six month period from the date of their introduction to submit any feedback on the ETROs. After the end of the initial six month period, the Local Authority may decide to revoke, amend and continue consulting, or make the ETROs permanent.
