A CONTROVERSIAL junction in Neath is to be improved.
Work is due to start on the two mini roundabouts in Cimla just up from the fire station.
It follows complaints from residents and councillors who raised concerns about the layout, which they claimed had resulted in several road collisions.
Cimla councillor John Warman said: "There is a lot of confusion there. It has been constantly brought up in the Pact meetings.
"A lot of my constituents have been involved in incidents there."
One of those was Julie Clifford, of nearby Trevallen Avenue, who was hurt in an accident there earlier this year.
"My car ended up on the pavement," said 52-year-old Mrs Clifford. "Luckily, I managed to miss the bus stop by driving behind it, while the other car ended up in the middle of the common."
Mr Warman said he was pleased that road improvements would be carried out this summer.
"There will be extra safety signs and they will be changing the layout to avoid confusion," he said.
"Some people did ask for a public meeting, that was not feasible at that time. We put the plans up in the supermarket and community centre for people to see."
He said speed bumps on Castle Drive would also be changed after being a bone of contention for some time.
The councillor added: "They were not a good design. People on buses were complaining about them and drivers were saying they were damaging their cars.
"The new ones will be a better design and will cause less of an impact but will do the job of slowing people down."
A council spokesman said work would start immediately, adding: "The council has been successful with a bid for the Welsh Government's Road Safety Grant for 2013/14, with £72,000 allocated for Cimla Road/Afan Valley Road.
"This will fund the replacement of the twin mini roundabouts with a single roundabout and the provision of additional road markings, traffic signs and anti-skid surfacing.
"The existing speed cushions in Castle Drive have become loose and will be replaced as part of the council's capital programme of works.
"The replacement work will involve resurfacing and the use of new cushions which are made from recycled plastic materials.
"The work has been issued to the contractor and work will start imminently."
