Welsh Liberal Democrat Jane Dodds MS has called on the Welsh Government to consider introducing safety measures on a stretch of the A470.

The Pontybat road has been described as an ‘accident hotspot’, with local motorists and residents sharing their experiences of near misses involving ambulances and trucks. In June, disappointment was expressed by former Conservative MP Fay Jones, and MS James Evans, with a call for safety upgrades.

A recent incident on the 14th of July saw a vehicle collide with a nearby wall, causing significant structural damage.

The concerns follow new research from the Forbes Advisor which has revealed that Powys has the most dangerous roads in the UK.

The research compared the total number of road casualties in each local authority in 2021 with each area’s population size. It found that 135 people were killed or seriously injured on the roads of Powys in 2021.

Mid and West Wales MS Jane Dodds has written to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport Ken Skates to call for urgent action to be taken to avoid “any potential tragedies”. She has also highlighted fading road markings on the A470 as well as worn-down anti-slip material. She said: “I am very concerned about the dangerous driving conditions that have been raised by both motorists and residents on the section of the A470 at Pontybat junction.

“As a frequent user of this stretch of road, I know all too well the hazards that can arise on the Pontybat junction. Given the school holidays and the expected increase in traffic, it is vital that urgent action is taken to prevent any future accidents. By improving the faded road markings and worn-away anti-slip material, we can ensure the safety of residents and motorists.”

The councillor for Bronllys and Felin-fach, Tom Colbert, said: “As someone who grew up in Brecon, I know all too well the dangers that have been associated with the Pontybat junction. The junction has sadly always been a hotspot for accidents, with at least one fatality already having occurred on that stretch of road.

“I fear that without urgent action being taken to implement traffic safety measures, we may see another unfortunate incident there in the near future.”

A spokesperson for Felinfach Community council said: “Felinfach Community Council are very disappointed to read that there are no plans to introduce engineering measures at the crossroads without even offering a reason or evidence. Our community will be devastated, as are the community councillors, that there seems to be an abrupt conclusion to not introducing engineering measures. Also to say “There are no plans to introduce any schemes at this location” when clearly a proposal in 2021 was in place.

“A lack of current data or hard evidence or a mechanism to measure accidents or near misses is not a reason to not introduce these measures.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We are working closely with Powys County Council to improve roads, including at Pontybat.”