Local MP Simon Hart has gone walkabout in Llanboidy to see first-hand the problems that the village has with congestion and road safety.

Members of Llanboidy Community Council invited Mr. Hart to the village at school drop off time to see the problems for himself.

"The issue is that there is a narrow and fairly steep road outside the school and there is only one lay-by that will park about five cars - for a school with almost 100 pupils," said Mr Hart.

The problem is even worse in the afternoons when all the children go home at once, unlike the start of school which is staggered.

School bus driver Clive Edwards of Taf Valley Coaches said that the narrow road and busy lay-by means that he has to stop to unload and pick up children in the middle of road - causing 10 minute hold ups at times.

"There have been many occasions in recent years where child safety has been compromised," he said. "Our buses stop in the middle of the road when the lay-by is full with hazard warning lights on to block the road to allow safe loading and unloading of pupils."

But he added that some cars get too impatient to wait and recently a car overtook the parked bus and mounted the pavement to get past. "In my opinion the situation is an accident waiting to happen," he added.

Mr. Hart added: "Quite clearly this is a totally unacceptable situation with children being put at risk. There is a small car park at front of school which is used by teachers and a fair bit of space that is taken up with verges and fences."

Mr. Hart has now written to the County Council on behalf of the community council to ask if a drop off zone can be created in this space.