A LLANDYBIE father who risked his life by crawling under an articulated gas pipeline lorry with a noose around his neck insists the one-man protest had to be carried out to try and ensure an innocent child is not killed.

Meirion Bowen says he was left with no other option but to climb under the truck last Friday morning after growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of co-operation from Carmarthenshire Council after they apparently refused him access to the traffic management plan for the project.

The 50-year-old also claims traffic is now heading past his home in Kings Road - where the incident happened just after 7.30am - rather than taking the more suitable route in Glynhir Road, even though the plan is said to rule that only light traffic can pass his address.

This, he says, could result in the lives of young children being lost - something he could not just sit back and allow to happen.

"I had been thinking of doing something like this for a while, to highlight exactly what is going on because people need to be made aware of the dangers this pipeline poses," said Mr Bowen.

"Once again we see a local authority working with a private company behind closed doors without public consultation and with no regard for public safety."

After a two-hour stand-off, Mr Bowen climbed out from under the truck after National Grid granted the community councillor access to a copy of their plan.

But this, he maintains, has shed no real light on the issue. "Their plan certainly contradicts what the local authority has been saying about it," said Mr Bowen.

He claims Carmarthenshire Council said they had not received a copy of the traffic management plan, but National Grid records state otherwise.

"They show that a copy of the plan was given in October 2006 and an amendment in April 2007, so why are they dealing with it behind closed doors," he asked?

Mr Bowen now looks set to be allowed access to the local authority's plan, through the Freedom of Information Act, but must wait 20 days.

"I wouldn't have a problem with that if they closed the road for 20 days, but they said that wasn't going to happen," he said.

And the Swansea Council worker, who was let off with a caution after last week's incident, has vowed to carry out another protest if public safety continues to be put at risk.

"I wouldn't have to think twice," he said.

The council's information and data protection officer John Tillman said: "Mr Bowen made a formal request for information on May 17, which we are dealing with under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

"Under the Act we are required to provide a response within 20 working days. We are looking into his request and have written to Mr Bowen to advise him of this and the timescale for response.

"I have also advised Mr Bowen if he has any queries to contact me. We will respond as soon as practically possible."

National Grid said they were unable to comment.