A GRIEVING widow calling for the closure of a slip road where her husband died says a reply to an open letter by First Minister Rhodri Morgan is just "not good enough".

On Thursday, we printed the open letter to Mr Morgan from Norma Ralph calling for the slip road to the Garnlydan junction of the A465 Heads of the Valleys Road near Ebbw Vale to be closed to stop any other family having to go through the loss she has suffered.

Her husband Ted, 65, died after a two-car crash there on July 19. A second driver, Michael Henry Davies, 54, of Abertillery, also died after the collision.

In her letter Mrs Ralph, 59, had called on Mr Morgan for his "urgent assistance" in closing the "very dangerous slip road" at Garnlydan where cars turning right on to the A465 have to cross two lanes of traffic where the speed limit is 60mph.

Mr Morgan responded: "I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Mrs Ralph on the loss of her husband. I am deeply saddened to hear that two families have been bereaved by this tragic accident.

"I understand that the South Wales Argus has already asked a number of questions about this junction and we have already responded to the effect that we have instructed our trunk road agents to carry out investigations of this junction.

"They will also investigate the consequences of any proposals affecting the local road network."

But on hearing the reply, Mrs Ralph said: "I am glad to hear Mr Morgan has offered his sympathies to both families involved in this accident.

"I hope he is aware it is not a one off, there are many people who have been affected by this junction. Mr Morgan has simply issued a generalised statement that we have heard many times before. This is not good enough.

"The whole community have offered me their support and we want something done now, even if it is just interim measures until something more permanent can be done.

"Something will be done about this junction, even if I have to take matters into my own hands."

* Yesterday morning Blaenau Gwent Council had an urgent meeting with an assembly engineer to discuss the junction.

A council spokesman said a proposal was put to the assembly but refused to reveal details.