Victim's family want road closure

Geraint Flynn was run over while on a night out in February 2005

The family of a teenager who died after being run over on Swansea's Kingsway are calling for the road to be shut to cars on Friday and Saturday nights.

Geraint Flynn, 19, was knocked down while on a night out and the driver was subsequently jailed.

Mr Flynn's family say the road is used by "boy racers" and a 12,000 signature petition calling on the council to shut it on some nights has been handed in.

The council said alterations were being made to improve pedestrian safety.

Mr Flynn was hit by a car driven by Kieran Knight, of Bryncoch, Neath.

He is serving four years' detention in a young offenders' institute after he was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was killed basically because of a bunch of irresponsible youngsters wanted to have fun showing off, driving recklessly up and down the Kingsway Andrew Williams, uncle

Mr Flynn's family launched an on online petition calling for the road closure and further signatures were collected in pubs and shops in Swansea.

It was handed in at County Hall in the city on Thursday - which would have been Mr Flynn's 21st birthday.

His uncle Andrew Williams said the Kingsway attracted young drivers keen to race each other and perform tricks in their cars.

"As a result of Geraint's death we came to understand how dangerous the Kingsway is on a Saturday and Friday evening with boy racers congregating and basically showing off," he said.

"It's a very distressing time for us still - we are still devastated by Geraint's loss.

"It's a tragic waste of his life that he was killed basically because of a bunch of irresponsible youngsters wanted to have fun driving recklessly up and down."

Swansea's Kingsway is popular on weekend evenings because of its number of pubs and clubs.

Nearby Wind Street is closed to traffic some evenings due to the amount of venues there.

The council said it had blocked two car parks on the Kingsway at night to try to stop young drivers meeting there.

Anthony Sullivan, head of transport and engineering, said the road was currently undergoing redevelopment which would help improve safety.

He said: "We are currently taking out two roundabouts which are very effective in allowing the young men to cruise for 300 or 400 yards and turn around and come back again.

"That circuit will be effectively removed by the current works and also the new system through the Kingsway will be one way and have a series of pelican crossings."