Change at busy traffic lights is put on hold
PKC to contact community council about way ahead
Traffic bosses have rowed back on a previous pledge to reprogramme traffic lights at a busy Perth intersection as recommended by community councillors.
Bridgend, Gannochy and Kinnoull Community Council (BGKCC) suggested months ago Perth and Kinross Council’s roads department should change the lights in Main Street where traffic coming from Scone can get stuck in the box junction trying to turn right onto Smeaton’s Bridge when it is full.
The group believes adjusting the sequence so drivers have more time to get clear of both the bridge and the box junction would stop other drivers coming down Lochie Brae having to queue when one or both are blocked - an idea it appeared roads bosses agreed would work right up until earlier this week.
However, after the PA reported on Tuesday the lights had still A view down Perth’s Lochie Brae not been reprogrammed despite a pledge over two months ago the change would be implemented, a council spokesperson said on Wednesday that previously unidentified “problems” had come up when the suggestion was discussed with its traffic signal maintenance contractor Siemens.
“Although the council officers initially agreed with BGKCC that the changes would be of benefit, unfortunately when the proposal was looked into in detail with our traffic signal maintenance contractor ... problems were identified,” the spokesperson said.
The council representative added: “This was due to the signals’ sequencing and hardware, such that implementing the changes would have adversely affected the capacity of the junction.
“We are currently in discussion with our maintenance contractor and our traffic consultants who created the report, to identify alternatives which would improve pedestrian safety while not having an adverse impact on capacity.
“As these discussions progress, we will be in contact with BGKCC to agree how we may move forward.”
Reacting to that statement yesterday a community council spokesperson told the PA: “The issue concerning BGKCC was not pedestrian crossing safety, but traffic light sequencing, as highlighted by the police response to our local MSP.
“However, if PKC believe that they have maximised the traffic capacity of the area whilst simultaneously allowing traffic to accumulate at the Bridgend junction, do they really believe they can comfortably accommodate the additional traffic from the Gannochy development, the massive Scone development and the significant Murray Royal development?”