A CALL to make traffic orders permanent in four Ceredigion towns was backed by senior councillors earlier this week.
Last February, Ceredigion’s Cabinet authorised two Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETROs) based on amended versions of traffic measures introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic.
They were brought in at Aberystwyth, Aberaeron, New Quay, and Cardigan via Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders, with a public consultation taking place later, which ended this January.
That public consultation period saw 44 items of correspondence received, both for and against the orders.
One of the towns affected was Cardigan, one resident saying: “I object to the way Ceredigion Council are trying to change the fundamental way Cardigan works. We need to allow everyone the ability to use our town. Not just the tourist for two months of the year.”
Another took the opposing view: “What a breath of fresh air the extended pavements in Cardigan are. With my current health problem, I appreciate them even more now, making it easier to negotiate the increased footfall we have with the tourists around at this time of year, no more having to walk in the road.”
Authorisation was sought at Ceredigion’s June 6 Cabinet meeting to make the two permanent Traffic Regulation Orders, replacing the ETROs.
The two orders cover parking restrictions and turning restrictions in the four towns.
At the Cabinet meeting, Aberaeron councillor Elizabeth Evans said there were “positives and negatives” to the traffic orders, highlighting a one-way system introduced in her town.
“From an Aberaeron point of view, for a pedestrian it is far easier to negotiate Aberaeron. There are people opposed to it, but if you want traffic flow in the town it’s far easier with the one-way system.”
She told fellow Cabinet members that, as a negative, convenience shoppers had been affected, but added: “I would support the ETRO changes to be permanent; it’s a temporary scheme which is starting to look shabby, we now need to look for funding to invest in these towns to make what we started permanent.”
Councillor Keith Henson, Cabinet Member for Highways and Environmental Services and Carbon Management , who had presented the item, said comments made in the consultation had been taken on board.
Members supported the recommendation to make the two orders permanent.
