DESPITE a petition to scrap a speed limit on Cardigan bypass, the Welsh Assembly Government has decided that a 40mph limit should be retained permanently.

UKIP county councillor Gethin James, who represents Aberporth, drew up a 98-name petition calling for a national speed limit to be introduced.

In the interest of safety the town council and police favoured retention of the status quo.

Following a number of serious and fatal accidents at the Tesco junction since the bypass opened in 1991 several amendments were made and right turn movements into and out of the junction prohibited while a permanent solution was identified.

A TEMPORARY 40mph speed limit was initially put in place in June 2011 for the protection of workers during installation of traffic lights at the notorious junction.

The Welsh Government published a permanent draft order in January last year which allowed 21 days for objections and led to the petition.

In confirming the draft order and after consultation with Dyfed-Powys Police the Government made it clear that a 40mph limit was critical for reducing the speed of southbound vehicles well in advance of the traffic lights because of a slight left hand bend.

It also stated that north of the junction the speed limit provided a measure of protection for vehicle movements into and out of Cae Morgan Road and for pedestrians using the footway adjacent to the northbound lane.

Delighted town mayor Cllr John Adams-Lewis, who is to bring up the matter at tonight’s meeting of the town council, said “I am extremely pleased that the Welsh Assembly Government has decided to keep the 40mph limit in place.

“Safety in this case is of paramount importance,” he said.