A controversial new roundabout has seen at least six crashes in recent months with some causing car write-offs and injuries, WalesOnline can reveal. The Croesbychan roundabout, which connects side roads from Hirwaun and Llwydcoed onto the A465, has temporarily replaced a staggered T-junction since May while the Court Lodge underbridge is built.
Our Freedom of Information request has revealed six collisions in the vicinity — and two others that possibly happened there — since last June. Five of those have been recorded since late November, including a three-vehicle pileup on New Year's Eve which left an eight-year-old boy traumatised and with minor head injuries.
The Welsh Government says it is aware of "concerns regarding road safety at this roundabout" and work to put changes in place started on Wednesday. Here are the crashes recorded by South Wales Police and the Government:
- June 3, 2022, at 11.48am: a Ford and Mercedes collided on the turning into Hirwaun. The fire service was needed for the clean-up.
- August 26, 2022, at 9.31pm: a SEAT and two Volkswagens collided on the roundabout.
- August 29, 2022, at 7.41am: Police believe "speed was involved" on the approach to the roundabout as a BMW and Nissan were both written off.
- November 23, 2022, at 6.53am: Police said a Ford and Volkswagen crashed near the roundabout but they were "unsure if this incident can be attributed to the roundabout" as standing water and heavy rain were the "main contributors".
- December 31, 2022, at 5.10pm: A Honda, MG and Renault collided. Police noted "there was no lighting". There were injuries to two people including an eight-year-old boy. According to the Welsh Government, a car "drove into the rear quarter of a vehicle entering from Swansea Road". Extra lighting was installed to "make it harder" for an eastbound driver to miss warning signs and markings, said the Government.
- January 11, 2023, at 8.05am: a Yamaha motorbike was driven into the back of a Citroen, causing damage, and the biker did not stop. Police were "unsure if this relates to the roundabout".
- January 18, 2023, daytime: A westbound driver planning to go straight ahead on the A465 "failed to make the full turn to go around the roundabout and drove through the barrier into the works during the day", said the Government. An upgrade to the barrier was ordered to prevent another incursion.
- January 30, 2023, at 3.25pm: Two vehicles were recorded as colliding at a Hirwaun roundabout but it was "possibly the one further west", said police. One person was injured.
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The Welsh Government scheme has prompted many social media complaints that people can "drive straight through it without even noticing a roundabout" at the "dangerous" spot. Dozens of people have reported near misses and some have dubbed the roundabout the most dangerous in the country.
“We are aware of concerns regarding road safety at this roundabout," said a Welsh Government spokesman. Work started on Wednesday for "the next planned traffic management switch which will remove one arm of the roundabout, reduce speed and make it much more obvious that there is a roundabout present to reduce the risk of drivers missing the give-way line.”
The work will allow the construction of a grade-separated junction and two bridges. It will remove the roundabout's eastern arm towards Baverstock. People can report concerns over the roundabout to Future Valleys at A465enquiries@futurevalleysconstruction.com. And you can read more of the latest traffic stories here.
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