‘Worst roundabout in Britain’ is slammed by furious motorists after series of crashes because confused drivers ‘don’t notice it until it’s too late’

• An eight-year-old boy suffered a head injury in a three-car pile up at the spot
• It was installed in a scheme to create the Court Lodge underbridge near Hirwaun

Government officials have promised change at the ‘worst roundabout in Britain’ which has confused motorists so much they ‘drive straight through without noticing’ – causing a series of crashes.

Drivers demanded action after insisting the road markings are so unclear many motor through the twisting and turning junction ‘without even noticing a roundabout.’ 

And government officials have promised changes following a series of crashes at the ‘unmagic roundabout’ on one of Wales’ busiest roads in Croesbychan.

An eight-year-old boy suffered a head injury on New Year’s Eve in a three-car pile up at the dangerous spot at Croesbychan on the busy Head of the Valleys road.

The rouge roundabout in Croesbychan, South Wales has been labelled the worst in Britain

Grandmother Angela Williams, 62, said she was travelling with her husband Kenneth, daughter Emma and grandson Leeroy before the smash.

She said the other driver appeared not to see the roundabout and did not slow down – leaving Leeroy with a head injury, cut neck and whiplash.

Angela said: ‘He’s traumatised terribly. It’s going to take him a while to get over this.’

The grandmother has called for better lighting and signage after saying the road was almost ‘pitch black’ at the time of the crash.

The road has caused multiple crashes as confused motorists drive straight through it

The new road layout was installed as part of a Welsh Government scheme to create the Court Lodge underbridge near Hirwaun, South Wales.

A temporary roundabout was put in place to replace a staggered T-junction while the new flythrough road is being built.

The current layout has been in place since May – but drivers are calling for the ‘dangerous’ roundabout to be changed following the crashes.

Families living in flats in the middle of a busy roundabout say they can’t wait to move out

The work is being carried out by Future Valleys who say changes to the road are restricted due to space.

Councillors Karen Morgan and Adam Owain Rogers, who represent Hirwaun, Penderyn, and Rhigos, issued a statement.

They said: ‘We attended a meeting this morning with the contractors and again shared the many concerns we have received about incidents and near-misses.

‘Future Valleys stated that signage is adequate and they have recently installed extra lighting. They also explained the constraints to making any other changes to the roundabout (space being the main factor).’

‘If work progresses as planned there will be changes to the layout of the roundabout in the next six to eight weeks which hopefully will reduce the risk of drivers who treat it as a straight-through road.

‘Future Valleys said they were unaware of many of the incidents/near-misses we described.’

The move has faced a backlash online as drivers say there have also been a string of ‘near misses.’

One mum said: ‘Let’s hope we can get through the next eight weeks without there being a fatality.

‘Every day there are near-misses and a lorry went straight through today leaving me in the middle of the roundabout.

Drivers insisted the road markings are so unclear that  many motor through the twisting and turning junction ‘without even noticing a roundabout’

The new road layout was installed as part of a Welsh Government scheme to create the Court Lodge underbridge near Hirwaun, South Wales

‘Will report it. I know my daughter and another car owner whose cars have been written off in last three weeks.’

Another driver said: ‘I witnessed a very, very near miss yesterday. A car just kept driving through the roundabout as if there was no junction or roundabout visible.’

A Welsh Government spokesman said roadworks are ongoing for the next ‘planned traffic management switch’ to allow the construction of a grade-separated junction and two bridges.

The new layout will remove the roundabout’s eastern arm and ‘make it much more obvious there is a roundabout present to reduce the risk of drivers missing the give-way line.’

The Welsh Government and the South Wales Police have been contacted for a comment.

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