'Steer clear' plea to L drivers

Sheer L - driving schools have been asked to respect residents' wishes

Driving instructors are being asked to steer clear of a west Wales village after complaints there were too many learner drivers on its roads.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) has asked motoring schools to give Llangunnor in Carmarthen a wide berth.

The local community council complained up to six cars at a time could be found practising reversing and three point turns on the test route.

Driving instructors say they will comply with the request.

Llangunnor councillor Sarah Howells said she was concerned at the number of learner drivers on the roads - particularly at school opening and closing times.

They can't ban us from going there as it is a public highway but they asked us politely to cut down Austin Davies, driving instructor

"No-one minds the fact that they are there - it's just the amount," she said.

"One afternoon I counted six in the space of five minutes at about 1500 BST in the afternoon when children were coming home from school."

She said the numbers had appeared to increase in recent months and said the area was being used by driving instructors from across Carmarthenshire as it was on the test route.

Residents' wishes

In response to the council's complaint the DSA has asked motoring schools to cut back visits to Llangunnor.

Austin Davies of Nantgaredig-based Austin's School of Motoring said the road lay-out in Llangunnor made it an ideal area for teaching.

"At times there are a lot of us up there," he said.

"There are about three or four junctions there within 200 yards of each other and its suitable for three point turns and reverse parking.

"They can't ban us from going there as it is a public highway but they asked us politely to cut down.

"Instructors are not avoiding the area completely but we are trying to respect the wishes of the residents there."

Last year, Powys County Council banned learners from using its car parks for practising after claims of "near-miss" on authority owned land.