Cyngor Bro Morgannwg
Vale of Glamorgan Council

Colwinston: Major safety concern-traffic congestion around school. since the original planning consent was given to Redrow to build 64 houses at Heol Cae Pwll, circumstances have significantly changed. At that time the school was attended by pupils from the village and local surroundings. However in 2020, the school was replaced and considerably enlarged. As there is no public transport to the village, there has been a significant increase in the number of children brought to school by car from the extended catchment area. As a result of the 64 new homes on Heol Cae Pwll (many with two or more cars because of the lack of public transport) and the need for many more parents to deliver their children to school by car, there has to been a dramatic increase in the volume of traffic through the village and country lanes leading to it, particularly those leading to and from the A48, which is also the only pedestrian route to public transport. The traffic congestion at the junction of the school and Heol Cae Pwll is already a major safety concern which should not be added to. Any additional housing will inevitably lead to additional cars and delivery traffic as all new residents will require their own transport. At peak times, when children are being dropped off/collected from school, congestion by the school and at the entrance to Heol Cae Pwll is already a very serious safety concern. Despite the best effects of both drivers and pedestrians, the parking problems significantly impact on visibility, and safety in seriously compromised as a result. With so many young children and adults in a highly congested area, with a large number of cars, an accident is always sadly, a possibility. It is strongly recommended that these much changed circumstances are considered before any further moves to increase the housing at Heol Cae Pwll are approved. It is strongly recommended that these safety concerns and risks are not added to by having additions homes built at Heol Cae Pwll, thereby increasing the volume of cars and delivery vans having to gain access through this already highly congested bottleneck at peak school traffic times. A full traffic survey should be undertaken and a proper risk assessments of the issues raised in this response completed before the planning for additional houses at Heol Cae Pwll proceeds any further. The existing dangerous situation should not be exacerbated further.