New cameras will fine drivers for using a notoriously busy rat run as a shortcut through a Cardiff suburb.
Exasperated homeowners in Llanishen have praised plans for the traffic cameras to prevent motorists from using their streets as a shortcut during rush hour.
People living on Crystal Glen, Wavell Close and Fishguard Road say they’ve been living with incessant congestion and noise pollution for years as a result of opportunistic motorists cutting through their estate.
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The collection of roads neighbour Heathwood Road and Fidlas Road which have been highly congested since residents can remember.
But during the last few years, they say they’ve seen an exponential rise in the number of drivers turning left onto Crystal Glen from Heathwood Road and ditching much of the traffic by cutting through to Tŷ Glas Avenue.
Fishguard Road and Crystal Glen are currently ‘access only’ areas, meaning only residents are allowed to use them. But traffic levels have increased as drivers ignore the signs at either end of the estate.
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The new cameras could be installed in the summer at Crystal Glen opposite Fishguard Close.
Under the proposals, the first of their kind in Cardiff, motorists without a permit can enter Fishguard Close and Crystal Glen but can not pass from one to another.
The plans are currently at consultation stage which will end in March.
Residents living on the roads within the access zone pictured above will be issued with free permits so they can drive through the camera gate without incurring the £70 fine.
Within the marked zone is Bader Close, Cheshire Close, Crystal Glen, Fishguard Close, Fishguard Road, Gibson Close, Glen View, Heathbrook, Heol Gwyndaf, Heol Merlin, St Dogmael's Avenue, St Martin's Crescent, Trenchard Drive, Wavell Close, Wingate Drive, and Tŷ Glas Avenue (service road between numbers 1 and 63).
Residents will only need to obtain a permit if they wish to travel through the permit gate and will still be able to enter/exit the rest of the area without obtaining a permit.
The cameras, which if installed will be part of an initial 18-month trial, will also fine delivery drivers if they drive through the camera gate.
Cardiff council hopes the plans will “stop rat running, reduce traffic, improve bus times, make roads safer, reduce vehicle speeds, and make the area nicer for cycling and walking”.
Pam Edwards, who has lived on Crystal Glen for 35 years, says she’s hopeful the cameras can make a difference and has praised the community for their efforts in getting them through.
“The speed is one of the biggest things,” she said. “And that’s not during rush hour really. When the road isn’t too busy they come whizzing down here. And then you get the traffic. A lot of the time it’s a nightmare.
“When you come back from work even to try and get on your own drive the traffic is so built up that even if you put your hazards on the cars will get right up behind you because everyone just seems to be in such a hurry.”
Colin and Linda Simpkins have lived on Wavell Close, which is effectively a continuation of Crystal Glen, for almost 30 years.
Linda said: “It’s a rat run, a total rat run. You come here from 8.15am until 9.15am everyone is doing it. Sometimes the traffic is all the way through.”
Colin continued: “I’ve had to have my drive widened because of the sheer amount of cars. If I was to try and get out as the drive was at say about 4pm, I’d probably now have an accident just trying to get off the drive because there is so much traffic. It’s unbelievable.”
In the summer MP Anna McMorrin and MS Julie Morgan wrote to residents of Fishguard Road and Crystal Glen inviting them to a street surgery in October.
Lynn and Roger Fry, who also live on Wavell Close, said considering the cameras would almost be right outside their house, their opinions weren’t sought.
Roger said: “It is bad, the traffic. From 8am to 9am bumper to bumper. I think there were once some roadworks which meant people were sent this way, and then once they realised and got into the habit of it they just kept coming and coming.”
Prabh Singh who works at the Premier store on Fishguard Road, said: “We normally use the road. The camera would affect us obviously. My boss always goes to the cash and carry and always delivers some stuff in the shop so we normally use that road to go up and down. Obviously it’s now going to cost us more."
One homeowner on Crystal Glen who preferred not to be named said living on the road became “hell” and that she was considering leaving before the plans were announced. “It became very, very unpleasant to be honest,” she added. "It's great news for people living here."
A notice from Cardiff council reads: "Because this is the first scheme of this kind in Cardiff it will be introduced on an 18-month trial basis.
"At the end of the 18 months we will need to decide whether to make the scheme permanent. We will undertake further engagement for feedback on people’s experiences of the scheme before making this decision."
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