South Wales ‘temporary’ traffic lights celebrate fifth birthday as cost to taxpayers hits £125,000
The temporary traffic lights that have been standing for FIVE YEARS: Fed up residents say the road control measure has become a ‘local joke’ that has so far cost taxpayers £125,000
- Instead of repairing the roads, the municipal chiefs rented the lights in March 2018
- Five years on, the South Wales signals are a ‘local joke’ and the road has not been repaired
- Monmouthshire councilor warns it is a symbol of years of austerity and austerity
A set of ‘temporary’ traffic lights has celebrated its fifth anniversary – after costing taxpayers nearly £125,000.
The lights have been on the busy country road after the edge of the roadway fell away due to subsidence.
But instead of repairing the roads, in March 2018 the councilors rented temporary lamps – and they are still there today.
Renting the lights will have cost £124,507 until the end of 2022, it has now been revealed.
Councilor Ian Chandler said the lights on part of the B4521 near Skenfrith, South Wales, have been a major talking point in his ward.
The lights have been on the country road for five years where the edge of the roadway fell away due to subsidence. It has now been revealed that renting the lights has cost £124,507 until the end of 2022
Cones were placed around the part of the carriageway at Skenfrith where the tarmac fell away and the traffic lights controlled traffic flow around the area. But locals are still waiting to hear when repairs will take place
The Green Party representative says the lights have become a “local joke” but warns they are a symbol of years of cuts and cuts.
He said: ‘It’s been a problem in this area for a long time, it’s a local joke, but people aren’t too happy about it.
“It came up during my election campaign a year ago and I put in the freedom of information request because they are still there and I was slightly shocked that it cost £125,000 to hire them.”
Green Party councilor Ian Chandler (pictured) was ‘shocked’ to discover the traffic light hire had cost Monmouthshire County Council nearly £125,000 – with the road left unrepaired
Cones were placed around the part of the roadway where the asphalt fell away and traffic lights control the flow around the area.
But he is still waiting for word when the repair will take place.
Mr Chandler added: ‘It is a symbol of years of austerity and austerity.
“The previous municipality made cutbacks, but it didn’t save money, it’s false savings because the money for repairs has to be spent eventually.
‘It’s not the busiest road, but it’s a fairly busy B-road, it’s the main route into Ross-on-Wye, from Abergavenny, and you may have to wait a few minutes and every now and then they work not and we have to wait for them to recover.
‘There’s no sign of that and the municipality doesn’t want to give me a hard date.’
Monmouthshire County Council has been contacted for comment.