Notorious icy road will be gritted next winter

The news will come as a relief to members who complained last month about a lack of gritting on town roads during a brief January cold snap.

They reported that icy conditions left Cardigan police unable to drive vehicles out of their Parc Teifi base and similar conditions made Rhodfa’r Felin – the road used by patients attending the health centre – just as treacherous.

Cllr Sian Maehrlein has now revealed Ceredigion County Council had not included Rhodfa’r Felin on their gritting programme as it was a ‘new road’.

But the town mayor, who had earlier called on the local authority to update their list of roads to be gritted, has now learnt Rhodfa’r Felin will be included in the 2024/25 programme.

The move was welcomed by deputy-mayor Cllr Olwen Davies.

“It’s essential that the road leading up to the health centre is gritted,” she said.

Following the events of January 6-7, when pedestrians reportedly took to the highway on busy North Road to avoid frozen pavements, the council urged County Hall to implement greater liaison and preparation when freezing temperatures were next forecast.

Cllr Richard Jones suggested that the local authority had been ‘caught out’ by conditions unique to Cardigan and St Dogmaels during the weekend in question.

“The problem was because it was such a short spell of cold weather,” he told colleagues. “The roads had not been gritted up on Parc Teifi and so police vehicles could not come out.

“I think Ceredigion County Council should be held accountable or else town and community councils such as ourselves may end up doing everything.”

Cllr Philippa Noble, who said Ropeyard Hill had been particularly slippery, accused the local authority of failing to take adequate steps to ensure the safety of some of its residents.

“Their response was that the cold weather was not a prolonged spell, but when people are in danger they’re in danger,” she said. “The main road up to the health centre was badly affected.”