![[ABD Logo]](../images/logo8050.gif)
The Association of British Drivers Mae Cymdeithas Gyrrwyr Prydain
A5025 Ambush Points
The North Wales ‘Safety’ Camera Partnership have had a whole series of tarmaced ambush points made for their Talivans along the A5025 — the solitary 'A' road which loops around the north of Anglesey.
On this page we take a closer look at where these modern day highwaymen hide out between Amlwch and Menai Bridge.
Sites are listed from North (Amlwch) to South (Menai Bridge)
Brynrefail
SH 479 870 Streetmap
Brynrefail is a tiny hamlet between Amlwch and Moelfre. This photo is taken just outside the village looking north towards NSLA signs on a slight downhill. The hedges and wide verge indicate that the 40 limit is totally unjustified at this point. The car in the photo would have been done for braking late for the 40 limit, yet is driving at a perfectly safe speed for the conditions.
Just behind the camera there is a turning into a single track country lane which has NSLA signs — what a joke speed limits are becoming!
Benllech
SH 518 819 Streetmap
Looking North towards Benllech town centre on a slight bend as you enter the town. Southbound, the downgrade from the brow of the hill encourages increasing speed as does the clear straight road. Although there are houses both sides of the road, there are grass verges, and as this is a main road according to government guidelines the limit ought to be 40 not 30, reducing to 30 nearer the town centre.
You can just make out a new counter or speed measuring device in the road beyond the lamp post. This doesn't appear to be connectable to the talivan, so it may be used to gather data on average vehicle speeds.
The same ambush point, this time looking south towards the change from 30 to a 40mph limit — see, we told you it should be 40! There are clearly no hazards on the left hand side of the road, so according to government guidelines this should be 40 here, increasing to NSLA where the 40 signs are. Notice the camera warning sign on the lamppost — after the ambush point!
You know the situation is getting out of hand in North Wales when even a local caravan site finds it necessary to provide a link to warn it's customers where the speed cameras are, doubtless because they'd like their customers to come back next year despite Brunstrom's efforts to drive them away — Tyddyn Isaf Camping and Caravan Park.
Be honest, when did you last see a caravan ‘speeding’?
Pentraeth
SH 523 784 Streetmap
In the village of Pentraeth after a crossroads and pedestrian crossing. The road descends into a dip then climbs before entering the 40 mph limit you can just make out in the distance . Again fields can be seen on the left indicating that the 30 limit extends way beyond where it can be justified, whilst the 40 limit contravenes government guidelines on speed limits. The road on the right is a residential road that turns in the same direction that we are looking, and may once have been the main road. On that road a 30 mph is justified, yet the limit on the newer road (effectively a bypass for the village) is just a 'nice little earner'.
This is the worst scam in the area and very lucrative. Visitors who are used to high visibility fixed cameras are easy prey. Heading south they come towards us round the corner in a 40 limit surrounded by fields, begin to go downhill, naturally pick up speed, and suddenly there's a 30 limit without reason and a Talivan lying in wait at the top of the next hill. Easy money.
Pen-y-garnedd
SH 541 757 Streetmap
1km south of the hamlet of Pen-y-Garnedd, there's a talivan ambush point on a dead straight road with a new surface. This first photo is looking south uphill from Pentraeth towards Menai Bridge. This is a comparitively new road which is basically a straightening out of the old route whose hedges you can see weaving off to the left and right. The old road is now just a service road for a few houses and little used. So, they improve a dangerous road, make it safe and faster, then stick a talivan there to rake in the cash. It is road engineering improvements like this that make roads safer, not roadside mugging machines.
Same ambush point but looking north and downhill towards Pentraeth. Note the complete absence of any hazards for at least half a mile.
Our verdict?
Menai Bridge
SH 546 727 Streetmap
Looking north & uphill towards Pentraeth Automotive. This is just after the Four Crosses Pub & roundabout on the outskirts of Menai Bridge, about ¾ mile after you turn off the A5/A55 dual carriageway onto the A5025 at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch after crossing the bridge over the Menai Strait.
For drivers heading south, the Talivan lurks just over the crest of the hill — another ambush point that sticks two fingers up at camera visibility guidelines.
None of these ambush points appear to have any parking restrictions, nor signs saying 'police vehicles only'. So it looks to be perfectly legal to park in them — not that you'd want to do that of course.
Visit Anglesey
The Anglesey Tourism Association really does welcome visitors, despite the efforts of the Chief Constable.
Anglesey-Môn Info Web
All you need to know about the island of Anglesey.
Our thanks to beleagured Anglesey driver and Talivan victim ‘Joe Bloggs’ for supplying the photos on this page.
(You don't think we're going to give the driver's name so Brunstrom can organise another press conference do you?)
