HEAVY traffic on a narrow and partly medieval street is causing damage to nearby houses, according to a county councillor.

Residents on the B5105, part of Mwrog Street, Ruthin are said to be fed up with heavy goods vehicles trying to use the narrow sloping street as a bypass to Clawddneydd, Bontuchel and beyond.

The street is only wide enough for one vehicle to pass at a time and is bordered with old houses, some of which are listed buildings that date back hundreds of years. Others go back to medieval times and don’t have foundations, increasing their vulnerability to damage.

One resident, Jenny Turner, said there has been a problem with too much traffic trying to use the street at one time for decades.

She said residents had high hopes that a bypass plan for Ruthin would solve the problem but these were shelved some years ago.

Ms Turner said: “The road was not built for this much traffic. Most of the houses are listed buildings. My house hasn’t even got any foundations and when you’ve got lorries coming up and down all day it causes problems.

“If you have two lorries or you have a lorry and a tractor meeting there is no way they’re getting past each other. We get cars and lorries mounting the path and driving at speed on it. We’ve got children walking up and down that path, it’s horrendous.

"Our wall has been smashed a few times. Our neighbour’s wall was knocked down three times last year alone."

Emrys Wynne, Ruthin county councillor, wants a special traffic light system put in to alleviate the problem but he felt the only long term solution would be for the by-pass to be completed.

Cllr Wynne said: “I’m calling on the council to investigate possible solutions to control the flow of traffic up and down Mwrog Street between The Centre and The Cross Keys pub.

"The long term solution would be to resurrect the idea of having a by-pass that would take the traffic down to the Denbigh Road but this will not happen for many years. In the meantime, a system that is controlled by lights could be installed as a long term but temporary solution.”

He added: “I am advised that there are lights that are activated by weight sensors that would trigger a sequence of traffic lights, allowing traffic to flow in one direction at a time. This system would overcome difficulties that residents would have if normal traffic lights were installed.

"As things stand, the road is dangerous for users, especially pedestrians, as large vehicles are often having to mount the narrow pavement in order to pass other oncoming vehicles. And property walls are often being damaged by vehicles when passing each other.”

Denbighshire County Council has been asked to comment.