Demolition call over tunnel beeps

Drivers beep their horns before entering the tunnel

Constant beeping of car horns has driven people living near a south Wales tunnel under a disused railway bridge to call for it to be pulled down.

Drivers in Six Bells near Abertillery use the single lane tunnel in Chapel Road as a shortcut to the main road.

Because the tunnel curves, many drivers sound their horns before entering to alert motorists on the other side.

Blaenau Gwent Council says it is aware of residents' concerns but has ruled out any immediate demolition.

People living nearby say horns are sounded day and night and want the road widened by pulling down the bridge.

"It's awful, the noise of the beeping goes on 24 hours a day," said John Griffin, who has lived nearby in Chapel Road for more than 30 years.

We just want some peace John Griffin

"It disturbs our sleep and I can't even go into the garden without the constant noise of people beeping their horns.

"It happens at all hours of the day.

"You can't blame the drivers because they are doing it to make sure they don't have a bump, but something really needs to be done about this now."

The single lane tunnel runs under the former Abertillery to Brynmawr railway line which is no longer used.

Many people living in Six Bells use it as a shortcut to the main road.

"I just don't know why they don't just pull it down and widen the road," said Mr Griffin.

This deplorable situation has prevailed for some years and the residents really are at their wits ends Trish Law AM

"I retired last year and I have the noise of the beeping all day long, when I was working it would only be in the night but now it is constant.

"It got to a point where we even put our home on the market but although everyone who came to view loved the house, they didn't want to buy it because of the beep beep beeping.

"If only we could have temporary traffic lights or something that will stop people beeping their horns and then get it demolished later.

"We just want some peace," he added.

Mr Griffin's fight has been taken up by Blaenau Gwent AM Trish Law and local councillors Denzil Hancock and Jim Watkins.

Wits' end

Following a visit to the street, Mrs Law wrote to Blaenau Gwent Council about the problem saying she was "shocked and appalled" at the noise levels residents have to endure.

"The problem is accentuated by the fact that blasts from car horns are amplified by the tunnel itself

"This deplorable situation has prevailed for some years and the residents really are at their wits' end," Mrs Law added.

But a spokesman for Blaenau Gwent Council has ruled out any immediate demolition of the bridge.

"The council recognises the concerns of local residents. However, currently the demolition of the bridge has not been explored and there are no plans in place for this at present," he said.