Gareth Davies MS, Member of the Senedd for Vale of Clwyd, recently met with residents of Highlands Road in Rhuddlan following a complaint earlier in the year, to discuss issues of speeding and on-pavement parking along the road, and gauge the feelings of residents.
The meeting, held on Friday 10th October, followed complaints from residents about the safety of the route and the lack of visible progress from other relevant stakeholders in finding tangible solutions to the concerns that residents had. Mr Davies sent a letter to residents in September inviting them to share their experiences and concerns.
Issues raised included vehicles mounting pavements, large delivery vans and HGVs using the residential route with infrastructure not suitable for the vehicles regularly navigating the narrow road. There has also been a lack of investment from the Welsh Government to allow upgrades to local roads like Highlands Road, which is facilitating high traffic from Rhyl, Prestatyn, and Dyserth.
The main issue highlighted by residents was persistent speeding, particularly during peak times. There was also dissatisfaction with the way previous traffic surveys had been conducted, with residents noting that monitoring had often taken place during quieter periods or during road closures, resulting in data that failed to reflect the reality of local conditions.
As an immediate step, Mr Davies will be pressing Denbighshire County Council to conduct new traffic surveys at busier times of day to gather accurate evidence. Residents are encouraged to submit their own feedback and examples of incidents by Tuesday 29th October, either by post or email, to support the case for action.
While views were mixed on the introduction of physical traffic calming measures such as speed bumps, there was strong agreement that permanent and effective solutions are needed to make Highlands Road safer. The potential for local volunteers to assist with speed guns was also suggested Council representatives.
Once all feedback has been received, Gareth Davies MS will compile a report to submit to Denbighshire County Council, calling for a review of traffic safety measures on the road.
Following the meeting, Gareth Davies MS said:
“There’s clearly strong feeling among residents on Highlands Road, and I can fully understand why, with the issues on the road not being recognised by authorities. It’s plain to see that frustration has been building with speeding, on-pavement parking, and the daily risks these bring.
“It’s clear that the surveys carried out so far don’t tell the full story. If you only measure traffic when the road is quiet, you’re missing the problem entirely. That’s why I’m helping residents pull together evidence and first-hand accounts, so we can push for new surveys at the right times and get a true picture of what’s happening.
“I’d urge anyone affected to share their experiences with me before the 29th of October deadline. Every bit of feedback strengthens our case. Working together, we can make sure the council has the evidence it needs to deliver permanent solutions that finally make Highlands Road safer for everyone.”