Danger road petition sparks safety pledge Groups to look at measures after pensioner died
A community group and the transport authority have backed a Perthshire towns’s bid to improve safety on a busy main road that took the life of a pensioner.
The support comes after over 300 people signed a petition calling for increased road safety measures, including safer pedestrian crossings, in Crieff ’s High Street.
Copies of the petition were forwarded to Transport Scotland, Perth and Kinross Council, and Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith.
The petition was started in August this year by former chair of Crieff
Community Council Craig Findlay, with the focus initially being on congestion at the A85 trunk road on East High Street.
However, following the death of 97-year-old William Dye in September after he was hit by a car, issues over the entire street were brought into focus.
David McCann, Crieff Succeeds manager, has revealed a joined up approach is being adopted to look at improving safety.
He said: “Crieff Succeeds is working closely with both Transport Scotland and Perth and Kinross Council, along with representatives from the Crieff business and wider community on this issue.
“We are determined to have a broader but detailed look at all the issues surrounding air quality and safety in the Crieff corridor to enable us to have a more focused and joined up approach to addressing these problems.”
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “Road safety is a priority for the Scottish Government and while the recent fatal accident did not take place on the trunk road network, we are aware of the petition and are exploring with partners any possible opportunities to improve road safety across Crieff.
“One death is one too many and we are committed to working with our partners to secure the ultimate vision established in Scotland’s Road Safety Framework to 2020, where no one is killed on our roads.”
A PKC spokesperson added: “Perth and Kinross Council can confirm that it received a copy of this petition which relates to the A85 trunk road through Crieff, the responsibility for which lies ultimately with Transport Scotland.
“Our sympathies are very much with the family of Mr Dye following his tragic death earlier this year and if there is any support we can give in relation to improving road user safety in Crieff, then we are willing to work with partner agencies like Transport Scotland to assist in this.
“Work regarding the development of air quality improvement measures for Crieff is ongoing at present.”