A Llanelli resident has raised urgent concerns over persistent speeding along a busy stretch of Pembrey Road, warning that unless action is taken, a fatality is only a matter of time. Despite submitting more than three dozen pieces of video evidence to the authorities, 66-year-old Leroy Hutchinson says little has changed – and the problem appears to be escalating.
Pembrey Road connects Llanelli to surrounding communities including Sandy, Kidwelly, Burry Port, and Pembrey itself. Its strategic importance as a thoroughfare has inadvertently encouraged reckless driving behaviours, according to locals. Mr Hutchinson, who lives on the road with his partner and daughter, describes a nightly ordeal, saying the stretch outside his home has become “an absolute racetrack,” with cars roaring at speeds “faster than fast”.
“The engines are like thunder some nights,” Mr Hutchinson told reporters. “It starts around 9pm and doesn’t let up until one or two in the morning – big, noisy engines tearing past the house at what must be at least 60 or 70 miles per hour. The 20mph speed limit is just ignored.”
His concerns aren’t merely anecdotal. Around August 2024, disturbed by the unrelenting noise and dangerous speeds, Mr Hutchinson began reviewing footage from his CCTV cameras and documenting what he witnessed. Initially, he shared his findings in a local neighbourhood watch group on Facebook. “People were shocked – they couldn’t believe how bad it was,” he said.
Taking his campaign further, Mr Hutchinson began tagging Dyfed Powys Police in his posts, hoping for intervention. “At first, there was total silence,” he recalled. Eventually, he was directed to Go Safe – the regional road safety partnership overseeing enforcement where photographic evidence is provided.
Mr Hutchinson subsequently submitted 39 separate videos, hoping this would spark action. In response, Go Safe explained that the shift to a default 20mph limit would take time to influence driver behaviour, promising to assess the location further. If found unsuitable for regular enforcement, they assured that roadside engagement teams would be made aware and monitor the area.
However, nearly a year from his first submission, Mr Hutchinson says he’s seen no improvement – if anything, the recklessness persists unchecked. Pointing to chilling incidents, he recalls a moment when a car sped down the wrong side of the road, seemingly in an attempt to “buzz” the cameras, travelling 300 or 400 metres into oncoming lanes. “That could have ended in disaster,” he said. “Enough is enough. I stopped posting the videos because I felt like I was just fuelling the madness, but someone is going to die if nothing’s done.”
This ongoing lack of resolution has left Mr Hutchinson discouraged. “These days, I don’t even get a phone call back – it feels completely automated and impersonal. I’ve sent the footage, followed the official channels, but there’s just no movement,” he lamented.
The concerns raised by Mr Hutchinson have sparked wider conversations within the community about road safety, police responsiveness, and the effectiveness of recently introduced 20mph zones across Wales. While authorities maintain that adapting to new speed limits will take time, residents point out that this adjustment period carries risks for those living at the roadside.
As the debate continues, Mr Hutchinson’s story underscores questions about public confidence in enforcement and the practical challenges of making residential streets safer. Dyfed Powys Police and Go Safe have been contacted for comment, but as of publication, no official response had been received.
Residents and campaigners across Llanelli and beyond will be watching closely to see whether authorities translate promises into action before tragedy strikes. Until then, the urgent call for meaningful intervention grows louder each night the engines roar past.