We need action to slow down traffic

New calming campaign bid for Coylton road

Community champs are vowing to drive through safety changes on a danger road.

And Coylton Community Council members say they will not wait until someone is killed for improvements.

They have set a date with Ayrshire Roads Alliance boss Stewart Turner to discuss the problem on the A70.

Thundering traffic zooms through the village but there are no restrictions in place to control speed.

Huge lorries plough through the village and one even recently jackknifed at the entrance of the village school.

Community council chair Raymond Gage said: “Surely we don’t have to wait until there is a fatality?

“There is nothing we can do about the volume of traffic coming through Coylton. But we can take action to control the speed. We need physical measures to slow the vehicles down. The 30mph hour signs are of no use. People are ignoring them. I have been told there has not been a fatality on the road in Coylton but that is a terrible attitude.”

They have agreed to come and hear concers in the village. The likes of Minishant have speed cameras and other traffic calming measures but Coylton relies solely on the discretion of drivers. Peak times at school drop off and pick up are chaotic with the village experiencing gridlock. Raymond met with the Ayrshire Roads Alliance and the police to try and solve the problem.

A recent traffic survey recorded more than 21,000 vehicles flitting through Coylton over the course of one weekend.

Raymond said: “People go through that village at 45mph. Sometimes the school lollipop man cannot even step on to the road and has to wait if the traffic is just coming too fast.”

Mr Turner and the police will be available for questions in the Claude Hamilton Hall on May 30 at 7pm.

Raymond added: “The community council is anxious that as many residents attend the meeting and convey their concerns.”

The community council are also desperately seeking new members as it at risk of disbanding.