Road Safety Warnings After Cars Enter Drainage Ditches in Newport Wetlands
Residents have issued road safety warnings following multiple incidents of vehicles crashing into drainage ditches in the Newport wetlands area.
These incidents have been reported over an extended period at Goldcliff, located on the Gwent Levels.
The drainage ditches, locally known as reens, are engineered to regulate water levels in the low-lying wetland environment.
The most recent event occurred on 12 March, involving a Mazda vehicle that became submerged and required recovery.
Grant Richard Laidlaw, owner of Gwent Recovery Towing Service, described the incident, stating that the car had spun 180 degrees before entering the water backwards.
Newport City Council has indicated that its £6.6 million road maintenance programme includes surface treatment work on Goldcliff Road, specifically from the junction at Goldcliff Common to Chapel Road.
Laidlaw, aged 32, commented on the road conditions, noting that the lanes are narrow and can be slippery for drivers.
He has been involved in recovering five or six vehicles from the ditches and emphasized the need for caution among motorists.
"Sometimes there is muck on the road,"
"The [people in the cars] are usually a bit shaken up, sometimes they leave them [their cars] until the next day."
Local Resident Highlights Ongoing Issues and Safety Concerns
Lauren Eleanor Harrhy, a dentist who has lived in the area since 2010, reported that drivers ending up in the reens has been a persistent problem.
She noted that young people often bring their cars to these lanes to race, attracted by the quietness of the area.
Harrhy, aged 40, expressed concerns about the safety of her three children, stating she does not allow them to ride their bicycles on the lane near their home.
"There are no pavements and lots of awkward corners in the area,"
She also mentioned that her eldest daughter, who is approaching the age to take her driving test, worries about driving on the road adjacent to the reens in the future.
"The road markings aren't clear and maintained, there are potholes everywhere at the moment,"
Harrhy suggested that installing warning signs and improving lighting could enhance road safety.
However, she expressed uncertainty regarding the installation of barriers to prevent vehicles from entering the reens, due to the proximity of the Newport Wetlands wildlife reserve.
Environmental Significance of the Area
The Goldcliff Lagoons consist of three water bodies that serve as vital habitats for breeding wild birds and rare species, including the Shrill Carder Bee.
Council Response and Future Plans
Newport City Council was contacted for comment and referred to its announcement of a major road maintenance programme scheduled for June 2025.
The £6.6 million programme includes surface treatment of Goldcliff Road, covering the section from the junction of Goldcliff Common to Chapel Road.
