PONTYBEREM’S developing Safe Routes in Communities programme has been praised by Llanelli’s Assembly Member, Lee Waters, on a recent visit to the
Carmarthenshire County Council received £250,000 of funding from the Welsh Government towards creating safer walking and cycling access for schoolchildren to Pontyberem Primary School.
Lee Waters said:
“I am really impressed with how this scheme is coming along. When I think of the chaos around a lot of schools in Llanelli during the school run, it makes perfect sense to me that we do all that we can as a community to encourage other means of getting our children to and from school.”
The scheme has provided a new path linking Brandy Way with the school. Another footpath through the park to the Memorial Hall is also well underway, along with dropped kerbs and tactile crossings in readiness for the new pedestrian crossing on the main road.
Pontyberem resident, Mr. Peter Lewis, who showed the AM around the scheme said that he hoped that it would all be complete by the Spring.
Mr Waters added:
“We know that walking or cycling to school is better for kids than jumping in the car, but if the route to school is unsafe or unpleasant, parents can understandably be really nervous. The key is to make school journeys as safe and easy as possible. What’s happening here in Pontyberem is just that.”
Also on his visit to Pontyberem, Lee helped to plant daffodils, met Pontyberem’s Syrian family and was shown around the new children’s play area. He finished the day with a community surgery where he was able to update residents on his work in the constituency and at the Senedd.
Mr. Waters said:
“I’d like to thank everyone in Pontyberem for organising a great day for me – including a fantastic lunch at The Cwtch. I’d really like to encourage people from the village to contact me more as their Assembly Member – I’m here to help and support them when it’s needed.”
