1. Background

The Welsh Government is the highway authority for the Welsh trunk road and motorway network including the A4042. The South Wales Trunk Road Agent has responsibility for the day to day operation and maintenance of the road.

CrashMapUK, which produces an interactive map of police recorded traffic collision data, shows 20 “slight” and 3 “serious” incidents on or approaching the roundabout in question between 2018 and 2022. Guidance on the definitions used to categorise incidents is published by the Department for Transport (DfT). It should be noted that the data only includes collisions that resulted in a personal injury and were reported to the police within 30 days of the accident.

The roundabout referred to by the petitioner is included in the Welsh Government’s proposed A4042 Southern Corridor, Pontypool to M4 scheme.

A4042 Southern Corridor, Pontypool to M4 scheme

The available information on the scheme does not specifically refer to the installation of traffic lights at this roundabout. The road review panel’s report on the scheme (discussed further below) says the main elements include construction of a 2.5km cycleway, modifications of five roundabouts (not including the one referred to by the petitioner) plus “small scale active travel and public transport measures”. A temporary 50mph speed limit would also be made permanent at approaches to roundabouts.

The Welsh Government says this stretch of road has a high collision rate, limited opportunities to walk or cycle safely and limited public transport provision. The scheme is included in the National Transport Delivery Plan (NTDP).

A stage one WelTAG (Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance) assessment on the scheme has been completed in addition to an interim stage two assessment. It is now subject to a further final stage two assessment in light of the Welsh Government’s roads review.

The roads review

In June 2021 the former Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters MS, announced that a roads review panel would be established to review planned Welsh Government road investments. The former Deputy Minister announced a pause on all new road schemes while the existing pipeline of schemes was reviewed.

The panel published its final report in February 2023. In response the Welsh Government published a new roads policy statement which sets four road building tests.

On the A4042 Southern Corridor Scheme, the panel found the case for change “partly made” and recommended the Welsh Government could continue to support the scheme but that it should be reviewed in line with the new policy. On the specific roundabout in question analysis of collision data included in the panel’s report “suggests there may be a collision problem” here.

As outlined, the Welsh Government is preparing a final WelTAG stage two report on the scheme to align the project to its future road building tests. It states the final report will be published in “spring 2024”.

2. Welsh Government action

In a letter to the Chair dated 26 April, the Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates MS, outlines improvements already made at the roundabout in question including a pedestrian crossing and the 50mph speed limit.

He refers to the scheme being included in the NTDP and says “the scheme will be prioritised for delivery against other similar schemes across Wales and will be dependent on the availability of funding”.

3. Welsh Parliament action

In 2019 Lynne Neagle MS tabled a written question on the number of accidents at the roundabout referred to by the petitioner. The then Minister for Economy and Transport referred to the stage one WelTAG assessment undertaken.

Every effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this briefing is correct at the time of publication. Readers should be aware that these briefings are not necessarily updated or otherwise amended to reflect subsequent changes.