THE MOTHER of a teenager who died in a horror crash on the Horseshoe Pass has praised the move to a reduced speed limit.

The reduction of the Horseshoe Pass to 40mph has proven controversial - particularly amongst motorcyclists for which it is a very popular spot.

These concerns have been raised by the famous Ponderosa Cafe, which sits on the Horseshoe Pass - near Llangollen.

The Leader: The Ponderosa The Ponderosa

The cafe's owners fear a reduction in business - with some motorcyclists saying they will go to other areas with higher speed limits.

READ MORE: Wrexham motorist's warning after lucky escape in Horseshoe Pass collision

But someone in favour of the move - done for safety reasons - is Anne Williams, from Ruabon.

In 2012, her 18-year-old son, Dale, was one of two people to die in a crash on the Horseshoe Pass.

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The other was 18-year-old Jonathan Lee Cassidy Jones, from Ruabon.

The issue of reducing the speed limit on the Pass to 40mph was first raised at Dale's inquest, and Anne said it's been "hurtful" to read comments from people who see it as nothing more than a "cash-cow" to trap speeding motorists. 

"I had to swear on oath during Dale's inquest that surely if the reduced speed limit stops even one life being lost - doesn't that make it worth it?", she said.

"Our lives were changed forever, and if this stops what my family has gone through over the last 10 years, which has been incredibly hard on us all, happening to another one, it has to be worth it."

She added: "I know The Ponderosa is scared of losing business, but as someone said to me the other day, people will always go up there."

READ MORE: Councillors 'delighted' as 40mph limit approved on Horseshoe Pass

Simon Clemence, owner of The Ponderosa, believes a 40mph zone by the café would have been a good compromise – combined with regular road maintenance. 

“Some people say the potholes are a bigger danger than speeding,” he said.

“Only a very small number of people exceed the speed limit here but there’s a move to reduce speed limits right across North Wales, not just here.

"Bikers are my most amenable customers, a real credit to their community. North Wales relies heavily on tourism and bikers are a big part of that. Without them, there’s likely to be an impact on the business.”