Letter: Powys County Council is ignoring concerns over road

Powys County Times

27-07-2025

I was interested in a recent report about new official signs being erected on some of the county's faster roads showing chevrons and a motorbike on a blue background.
Evidently, these signs will enable said motorbikes to take corners as fast as possible by following the on-road chevrons.
Powys seems to have a mad obsession with encouraging road bikes to speed along unsuitable roads and encourage off road access to motorbikes and 4WD vehicles to our previously unspoilt uplands.
Yet when it comes to quiet, environmentally harmless, recreation, such as walking our scenically superb, long-distance footpaths, their attitude is totally the reverse.
Summer is here and walkers either as individuals or groups of all ages are taking to the Wye Valley Walk or the Heart of Wales Line Trail through mid-Powys.
I have long been concerned for walkers' safety where these two trails merge on the B4358 from the Wye bridge in Newbridge on Wye for about one mile west towards Beulah.
No footpath or suitable verge to walk on, users are forced to walk on the open road and try to take refuge amongst the brambles if vehicles approach.
Safety concerns increase as the road becomes very steep with minimal verge and often very fast cars, lorries and motorbikes coming downhill.
Most of the section has no speed restrictions which means high speed is not illegal but potentially lethal to walkers.
My requests to PCC for a path have been turned down on the grounds of cost (OK I accept that), speed restrictions 'would not legally be allowed', and a request to Highways for at least warning signs was also rejected on the grounds (and I quote) 'drivers take no notice of signs'!
If they had added the word 'some' to their reply, the majority who do take notice might help save lives.
Even a simple 'Beware Pedestrians for one mile' signs at either end of the B4358 section would be better than nothing.
Speeding motorcyclists usually kill themselves, but pedestrians get killed by traffic.
If, and I truly hope it never happens, a pedestrian on this road gets injured or worse by motorised traffic, I hope the consciences of Highways Committee members would accept some individual blame because of their inaction.