Villagers who live along a dangerous stretch of road between Brecon and Sennybridge have been campaigning for a safer speed limit for four years.

The campaign to reduce the speed limit from 60 miles per hour to 40mph in Nantygwreiddyn includes a petition which has gained 125 signatures from the village and its surrounding areas.

The campaign for a safer speed limit was started in 2017 by Powys County Councillor Iain McIntosh who was worried that it was “only a matter of time” until there was a serious accident.

Consisting of a row of terraced houses with parking in front of the properties, residents live directly next to the A40.

Concerned villagers are at “significant risk” every time they enter or exit their parked vehicles as it requires them to step onto the national speed road where some vehicles are estimated to travel at speeds in excess of 70mph.

Cllr McIntosh, who represents Yscir ward, said: “On entering or exiting a parked car, residents are faced with stepping onto the edge of the carriageway, where traffic is travelling at 60mph. Sometimes, as the A40 from Brecon to Sennybridge is a fast section of road, traffic travels through the village at higher speeds, estimated to be in excess of 70mph at times, resulting in a significant risk to the lives of residents or visitors to Nantygwreiddyn parking by the side of the carriageway.

“A few yards to the west of the terrace lies Cellar Farm, with a busy HGV and heavy plant machinery yard adjacent to the road. The entrance to the yard joins the carriageway on the exit of a large sweeping bend, where fast travelling traffic often has to brake promptly when lorries or plant equipment is being driven out onto the road.

“I fear it’s just a matter of time before a serious accident happens here too.

“A short distance further to the west lies a dangerous farm works track entrance, followed by a dip in the road and dangerous road junction where the C0051 single track road towards Trallong meets the A40. There have been numerous accidents at this traffic junction in recent years.”

Cllr McIntosh - who has approval from the Trallong and Llanfihangel Nant Bran Community Council as well as the Maescar and Llywel Powys councillor Edwin Roderick - claimed that despite his previous campaign efforts, the former Welsh Government minister responsible for road and highways Ken Skates had never responded.

After Brecon and Radnorshire’s MP Fay Jones chased the matter of the village’s speed limit, Cllr McIntosh finally received a response on January 5 this year from minister for climate change MS Lee Waters who is responsible for road safety.

However the campaign once again went quiet as the Welsh Government said other schemes were “higher priority” meaning the request would have to wait, however Cllr McIntosh and the 125 other signatories have started work again to establish a safer speed as well as speed limit signs and village signs to Nantygwreiddyn.

Cllr McIntosh said: “Together with residents of Nantygwreiddyn we have been trying to get a speed limit in place on this stretch of road for over four years.

“It’s disappointing that the Welsh Government took three years to respond just to say this was not a priority and they may consider it at some time in the future.

“We have asked the minister responsible for highways and transport, Lee Waters MS, to reconsider the prioritisation of our request and that the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency visit Nantygwreiddyn, to meet me and residents and, investigate the threat to residents and traffic using this part of the main A40.”

The Welsh Government, who are responsible for A roads across Wales, were approached for a comment although they claimed that they did not have any proposals for the speed limit change.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: ““We regularly review the need for changes to speed limits on the trunk roads in Wales and always seek to introduce engineering measures to address road safety before introducing a speed limit.

“We do not have any proposals to lower the speed limit along the A40 at Nantygwreiddyn, however we are currently looking at implementing signage and road markings to highlight the need to drive carefully in a residential area.”