A campaign fighting to stop a busy Newport roundabout from being removed has received the backing of the area’s MS.
Natasha Asghar MS has added her voice to the ever-growing chorus of calls to stop any drastic changes from being carried out to the Old Green Roundabout.
The South Wales East politician is also encouraging residents to get involved by signing a petition organised by local campaigner Michael Enea opposing the plans, which has already been signed by more than 1,000 people.
Transport for Wales have unveiled plans to remove the roundabout and replace it with a traffic-light controlled junction with priority access lanes for buses and active travel routes.
Natasha Asghar MS has hit out at the plans, saying the changes will make Newport’s already nightmare traffic situation even worse.
She met with petition organiser Michael Enea at the site this week to talk through the proposals.
Natasha said: “With 3,000 vehicles using the roundabout every evening rush-hour, these major changes including traffic lights will have a hugely detrimental impact on motorists and the area.
“More than a thousand people, made up of city residents and those who regularly use this busy route, have given their verdict on these ludicrous plans and they don’t want to see Old Green Roundabout removed.
“As the well-known saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! It’s imperative now that the powers that be heed residents’ feedback and drop these plans for good.
“Instead of trying to unnecessarily tinker with important sites like Old Green, if we really want to see major improvements then efforts would be much better directed at removing 20mph speed limits, scrapping the 50mph speed limit cameras on the M4 and finally building the much-needed M4 relief road.”
Michael Enea, the man behind the ever-growing petition added:
“I really care about Newport, its city centre, and future. I feel Transport for Wales are making a huge mistake in removing the Old Green roundabout. The changes proposed would take us back to the days of gridlocked roads seen in the 1960s and early-70s.”
“There is a very real danger that visitors could become frustrated with daily queues that they will simply change their shopping habits and divert to Cwmbran, Spytty, and Maesglas Retail Park. This would hit businesses hard in a City Centre that is already struggling. Many people feel the same way. This is main reason I launched a petition that got 1,000 signatures inside two weeks.”
Click here to sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/no-change-to-the-old-green-roundabout
