Richmond traffic fears put under focus
‘Come and have a look for 10 minutes and see need for survey’
The volume and speed of vehicles on Richmond Drive has been be assessed as residents’ calls for traffic calming measures persist.
The local authority said previous assessments of Richmond Drive and Peebles Drive showed the level of traffic did not meet the criteria to warrant any further action.
But they confirmed to the Reformer that they would conduct a survey to address concerns. It is understood this took place last week. James Aitken, who lives in Richmond Drive, has welcomed the survey, but says the road safety criteria must be reviewed to reflect the reality of people’s safety concerns.
He said: “We are trying to prevent accidents by reducing speed.
“However, it would appear we have to generate some injury statistics over three years before even a survey can be commissioned. Just come and look for 10 minutes and you will see the need for a survey.”
He added: “Overall the response received from Gordon Mackay, head of roads and transportation, is a perfect example of the difficulty encountered by conscientious members of a community who are trying to solve obvious problems.
“We are close to the action and see the issues. The decision- makers are far from the action, and base decisions on criteria that do not reflect the reality of the situation. There has been no indication that anyone from roads and transportation has been to the area highlighted to look for themselves.”
Gordon Mackay, head of roads and transportation services at South Lanarkshire Council, said: “We have been in correspondence with residents of Richmond Drive and Peebles Drive who have requested traffic calming features due to their concerns with speed and volume of traffic.
“We have advised that council’s criteria for the introduction of engineering measures such as traffic calming is not met at this location.
“Our resources are being targeted to roads where accidents are occurring in order to help meet the government’s casualty reduction targets.
“The council participates in many road safety campaigns and these, together with engineering measures where the criteria are met, form the basis of reducing accidents on the road network.
“As the residents of Richmond Drive still have concerns it has been agreed to undertake a classified vehicle and speed survey on this street to compare to previous surveys.
“The survey has yet to be programmed but it will not coincide with works on adjacent roads that could affect the outcome of the survey.”