We live in the middle of a roundabout – that’s how it really is

RESIDENTS living in the middle of a roundabout say they don’t have a parking space and can’t sleep because of the noise.

A three storey block of flats in South Wales is the island’s centerpiece, used by locals to judge their streets.

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Around 20 residents live in the nine apartments. There is no parking for residents or a safe place to cross on the grassy patch.

A resident who has lived on the block for five years told The Sun Online that living there “drives me crazy”.

They said: “When the traffic is heavy, it can be a nightmare because the road around the island is quite wide. So when you’re laden with kids and shopping bags, you can take your life into your own hands to get across the island.

“And when you’re inside and it’s busy, all you hear is the sound of cars circling around the roundabout.

“On a bad day it drives me crazy.

“It would be handy to have a car park at the roundabout as well because crossing this road to enter and exit the island can be a challenge, not to mention inconvenience.

“We have to find a space in the four streets leading off the roundabout and walk to and from the car, which I sometimes have to park a few hundred yards away to find a space.”

The resident, who asked not to be identified, lives on the top floor of the block, which is believed to have been built in the 1970s before the roundabout was built around it a few years later.

Another local, ground worker Rhys, 32, said although it can be noisy at busy times, he’s gotten used to the roar of the cars.

Rhys, who cradles his 16-month-old daughter, said: “I’ve gotten used to it now so it doesn’t bother me like it used to and also I have this little ‘un that keeps me up these days.

“I moved here about six years ago and overall I’m pretty happy here.

“It’s a good community around and how many people can say they live in a roundabout? It’s a bit whimsical and I like that.”

The mother of one child, Chelsea, lives on the top floors with her young daughter.

She said: “It’s a bit strange. I’ve lived here for two years and you just get used to it.

“The cars are coming down the hill at a pace and so are the school buses because there is a comprehensive stop nearby, so there are about 10 school buses.”

The apartments are in Penywaun, between Aberdare and Hirwaun, just south of the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road.

The Waunllwyd Flats offer an unusual sight, with paths leading down from four sections of the roundabout.