Councillors delay decision on crossing

COUNCILLORS have delayed a decision on siting a pedestrian crossing on a busy Arbroath street to see for themselves the dangers on the stretch where an OAP was killed last year.

Members of Angus Council’s communities committee will now carry out a site visit at Keptie Street to consider whether a signal-controlled crossing is needed — and where it might be sited.

The move comes a decade after work got under way on a puffin crossing close to the junction with Catherine Street, before the project was halted because of concerns about its location.

The crossing was never completed and although some safety improvements were made, the issue tragically reared its head last September when 81-year-old Barbara Stormont was knocked down and killed by a van.

Road accident statistics have revealed that the fatality and one other slight injury accident involving a pedestrian have been recorded within a 100-metre survey site in the past three years.

Roads officials presented councillors with several improvement options as part of a wide-ranging report, including the idea of a controlled crossing either between Helen Street and Garden Street, or Garden Street and Lochlands Street.

Councillors agreed unanimously to visit the street, with a date yet to be set.