Temporary safety measures in Crieff
Temporary safety measures are to be installed at a Crieff accident blackspot.
A public meeting held earlier this month at Strathearn Community Campus heard bollards are to be erected at the corner of Broich Road and King Street.
However the gathering, attended by Strathearn councillors Ann Cowan, Rhona Brock and Anne Younger and local authority roads manager Chic Haggart, heard concerns expressed that the planned improvements were not sufficient to alleviate locals’ fears.
Broich Road has been a cause for concern for years, exacerbated in recent times by the construction of the new primary school.
Those present heard that there were now five sets of 20mph warning lights along the route that will flash at appropriate times and bollards would be erected on the pavement at the junction with King Street in a couple of weeks.
The meeting was heated at times, and Perth and Kinross Council was slammed for not providing a safe road in the vicinity of three schools – Crieff Primary, St Dominic’s RC Primary and Crieff High School.
It was explained that major improvements cannot be carried out until a developer comes to the area, whether that be for a new supermarket or housing development.
This saw the local authority be accused of “abdicating responsibility”.
One man said: “Surely it is incumbent on the council to have a duty of care to people who are going to use that road?”
The local authority was also slated for building a school next to a road that was “not fit for purpose”.
It was pointed out that the problem existed now, and “what would happen if no developers came along?”
Local ward councillor Ann Cowan described the situation as “very frustrating”, saying there had been one disappointment after another in relation to proposed developments.
Mr Haggart said that plans had been put in place years ago to develop the junction, among other things, but to the frustration of everyone they hadn’t been able to see these through because of planning issues.
He told the meeting: “The biggest problem is that Perth and Kinross Council don’t have enough money to make roads fit for purpose before the event and they need to try and get planning gain from developers.” Mr Haggart said his job was “to make the best of what we have. Is making the best good enough? Absolutely not.”
He added: “I can’t do enough to make this road the way we all want it.”
He explained that, because of Department of Transport rules on pavement widths, the council was restricted as to where it could position bollards and barriers, and until there were developments going forward a few bollards were “the best we can manage at the moment.”
Mr Haggart said he would look at a suggestion by Crieff community The bad corner at the Broich Road/King Street
junction in Crieff councillor Susanna Murdoch to make room for widening the pavement on one side of the road by narrowing it on the opposite.
Afterwards, Crieff Community Council chairman Craig Finlay said: “The lack of progress on any real safety improvements on Broich Road, particularly at the junction with King Street, has reflected badly on our current PKC ward councillors, in my opinion.
“So, it was refreshing that the public had their chance to air the many frustrations they share with me, and it is to the credit of Susanna Murdoch, Crieff CCs vice-chair, that she was able to illustrate to Mr Haggart exactly how the junction could be widened – by reducing the width of the south side pavement on Broich Road – to allow vehicles to enter and leave the west of Broich Road more safely.
“Why this solution was not seen in advance by those within Perth and Kinross Council is disappointing, but perhaps cost came into the decision-making process.
“Bollards on the north side
pavement may also deter drivers from mounting the footpath and these are to be welcomed. Crieff CC will continue to push for further safety measures.”
Meanwhile, Councillor Brock urged people to report motorists they see driving dangerously to police, as this will all build up a case for more to be done at the blackspot.
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council described the meeting as “positive” and “useful”.
She added: “At the meeting, officers ensured residents that the bollards which had previously been approved as an appropriate measure would be installed as soon as possible.
“They also agreed to carry out some investigative work into the possibility of narrowing the pavement on one side of the road and installing parent and child parking spaces at the community campus.
“We will feedback to the community on the outcomes of the investigations once they are completed.”