Having secured a barrier to stem anti-social driving, town councillors have now agreed to cut the speed limit in an Abergavenny trouble-spot blighted by boy racers.

Abergavenny town councillors have long called for action over young drivers racing round Abergavenny streets at night, keeping locals awake.

The group, namely Councillors Tudor Thomas, Martyn Grocutt, and Mayor Teslin Davies, have convinced Monmouthshire County Council to bring in a 20 mph limit on Park Crescent and Park Avenue and connecting streets.

This comes after councillors secured funding for two gatekeepers to lock Fairfield Car Park at night, closing off the problem area to boy racers.

Councillor Thomas told the Chronicle that MCC agreed to cu the limit, earning the second plank of a campaign to solve the anti-social driving problem in the Fairfield area.

“It will make things a lot safer on those two streets,” he said. “It’s been confirmed for next year’s budget and will cover all of Park Crescent and Park Avenue.

“That will start off with signposting. If it doesn’t take heed, will will have to think about the dreaded speed-bumps. But, I would hope not. This is, at least, a start.”

On the roads concerned, research last year showed thousands of drivers had broken the current 30 mph limit—with some notching motorway speeds of 65 and 70 mph.

Around 3,800 vehicles were recorded as exceeding the legal speed limit in two locations on Park Crescent in Abergavenny, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request showed.

Speeds of between 65mph and 70mph were also recorded in the residential area which is used by pupils walking to school.

A council spokesperson, said, Monmouthshire’s highways service is seeking Welsh Government support to fund a 20mph limit on Park Crescent and Park Avenue in Abergavenny as part of next year’s road safety bids. If successful, it will allow a scheme to be drawn up to help achieve lower speeds and a reduced 20mph limit on the two roads. However, if unsuccessful the scheme will be prioritised and alternative funding sought alongside other works within the highway programme.