P-06-1429 Install a roundabout, not traffic lights, at fatal Nash Junction, Pembrokeshire - Correspondence from the Petitioner to Committee, 03 September 2024.

Dear Petitions Committee,

Thank you for your response regarding Petition P-06-1429. I appreciate the commitment to improving safety at the A477 Nash Fingerpost site. However, I noticed the letter was addressed to "Jack" instead of "Laura," which I assume was an oversight.

As a keen geologist, I am deeply invested in both safety and environmental preservation. I believe a roundabout could be a sustainable solution with minimal environmental impact for several reasons:

1. Ecosystem Preservation: A roundabout can integrate seamlessly with the natural landscape, preserving local flora and fauna. Unlike traffic lights, it avoids continuous light pollution, benefiting nocturnal wildlife.

2. Land Impact: The geological study of the area indicates that a roundabout would not disrupt significant geological features. Local farmers have generously agreed to provide the necessary land, ensuring minimal disturbance to the existing ecosystem.

3. Sustainable Design: Roundabouts require less ongoing energy consumption than traffic lights, reducing the long-term environmental footprint. They can also be landscaped with native plants, enhancing local biodiversity.

4. Local Support: The local council and community strongly favor the roundabout proposal, recognising its potential for improved traffic flow and safety. This local backing underscores the roundabout's viability and desirability.

5. Policy Considerations: While Welsh Government policy emphasizes minimal environmental impact and land use, the agreement with local farmers addresses the land requirement issue. The roundabout would align with sustainable transport goals by reducing energy use and integrating with the environment.

6. Safety and Efficiency: Roundabouts are proven to reduce the severity of accidents and improve traffic flow by eliminating the stop-start nature of traffic lights.

7. HGV and Traffic Volume: Traffic lights often cause delays for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) due to frequent stops and starts, leading to increased emissions and fuel consumption. With the anticipated rise in traffic due to local port development and area expansion, a roundabout would better manage the higher volume and weight of traffic. Roundabouts facilitate continuous movement, reducing idling time and emissions, which benefits the environment. This design ensures smoother flow, accommodates future growth efficiently, and aligns with sustainable transport goals by minimizing the ecological footprint.

Please also remember that the local councillors have been working hard for decades towards encouraging the Senedd to see the sense of a roundabout at Nash Finger Post - I am sure you have minutes and emails pertaining to this. There is certainly Welsh press covering the recent events in place, and this letter in honour of transparency and accountability will be shared publicly. As a Quaker, I hold utmost belief in shared and open discourse.

As I touched upon previously in correspondence with you, councillors have approached and made the appropriate arrangements with the local farming community regarding the appropriate land needs and they have kindly supported and agreed to provide the land.

I do hope all these points help when you consider this petition, and a simple press search will show you the Welsh and at times national media response.

I would also like to point out that the electricity for the traffic lights was put in during the ‘call of the community and the electorate’ for a roundabout at this location, before those who asked to be heard were able to present their case fully.

The traffic lights, therefore, as I am sure you know, have now been most speedily and efficiently completed - thank you for your dedication in completing this without haste. It is most generous of the Senedd to be so time conscious and aware of our community needs.

Democratic consideration is the core of the Senedd and the long term consideration of the communities it serves. I hope these points highlight the potential benefits of a roundabout at this location, and that the installed traffic light system does not detract from a just and meticulous consideration of the long term benefit of the community, electorate, councillors and many businesses that have put their trust in this road being an efficient, accessible and safe mode of transportation - very like the roundabout currently under construction at Penblewn. A president perhaps worth applying in this case with Nash Finger Post?

Thank you for considering this perspective and for your ongoing efforts to enhance road safety.

Yours sincerely,

Laura Griffiths