The incident on 16 April has shaken and angered the local community – this being the latest in a string of accidents and near misses at the crossing.
(Image: Kevin Worth)
Reacting to the footage on social media, resident Kimberley Silcox said: “Lucky he didn’t crash into your car or the club! There was 4/5 junior teams at the club for their midweek games! Lucky nobody got hurt! But something needs to be done.”
While fellow resident, Dave Lee said: “I am waiting for someone to be killed on that crossing. We need speed humps and traffic lights all the way I seen council do a little potholes on roads what don’t need doing.”
Anthony Evans wrote bluntly: “Our zebra crossing. Think twice before using it! It’s lethal” before thanking the rugby club for sharing the CCTV footage saying “we need to be grateful for the CCTV shared by Pontyates RFC of several recent traffic incidents at the centre of the village. I’m confident that the CCTV and the vigilance from the Stewards/Committee will result in calming measures eventually.”
County councillor Tyssul Evans says this is the latest in a string of accidents at this crossing, with a number of them linked to excess speed.
Cllr Evans said: “This is the second occurrence of a vehicle accident near the Pontiets RFC Clubhouse as of late, with the latest due to excessive speeding. Over the last couple of months some youngsters have been speeding in the village alongside other villages, it started with two young male persons on motorbikes then a quad bike and latterly a blue car.
“Following the first accident some six to eight weeks ago when a resident was knocked down on the zebra crossing, the County Council repainted the surface of the crossing as well as the zig-zag road markings leading up to the crossing. This has greatly improved the vision of drivers, alerting them as they approach the crossing. However a small minority of drivers seem to ignore the fact that a crossing is there for a purpose.
“Sadly, these few young drivers seem to defy every rule going and just carry on regardless and take no notice whatsoever of the 20mph restriction in the village.
“Luckily, the pedestrian involved in the first accident was severely shaken but not severely injured, and from what I am reliably informed no one was hurt last evening.
“The Police, PCSO’s & Go Safe officers have been patrolling the area regularly as of late but of course they cannot be everywhere all the time.”
Fellow Llangyndeyrn ward county councillor, Meinir James said she was working with Cllr Tyssul Evans and Cllr Alex Evans who represents the adjacent Glyn ward which covers the Llanelli side of Pontyates to address the issues in the village.
Cllr James said: “I’m extremely concerned at this latest incident. We, as three local County Councillors (Cllr Tyssul Evans and myself for Llangyndeyrn ward and Cllr Alex Evans for Y Glyn ward) held a public consultation meeting at Pontyates Rugby Club on the 9th April, and one of the main topics of discussion raised by local residents was the speed of traffic travelling through the village and road safety near the zebra crossing with instances of vehicles overtaking at speed on the crossing.
“We are continually drawing the attention of Police, PCSO’s and Go Safe to these problems and grateful for their response in patrolling the area whenever possible. We hope to meet with Dafydd Llewellyn, the Dyfed-Powys Police & Crime Commissioner, in the coming weeks to discuss the situation and will continue to discuss possible solutions with Council officers.”
Dyfed Powys Police and Carmarthenshire Council have both been contacted for comment.
(Lead image: Anthony Evans)
