Action to beat traffic problems

Candidate’s five-point plan

Rutherglen should be turned into a “traffic action town” according to a candidate in next month’s by-election.

Ellen Bryson, who will stand for the Liberal Democrats, reckons urgent action is needed to combat traffic problems in the Royal Burgh.

In recent weeks the Reformer has reported on a number of rat run roads in the town, including Richmond Drive and Calderwood Road.

Ms Bryson reckons a five-point action plan could help alleviate problems.

She called for the rapid introduction of 20mph speed limits in residential areas, a survey of rat run roads to identify potential solutions, the creation of an action plan with dedicated budget for traffic calming and action to tackle excessive amounts of emissions.

A programme to develop safe routes for elderly people, parents and children would also form part of the plan.

Ms Bryson said: “Much of the traffic going through local streets is not local traffic but people looking for the quickest route through the area to somewhere else.

“It has been increasingly obvious meeting people on the doorsteps in recent weeks that traffic concerns are the single biggest issue for them.

“From residents in Calderwood Road and Richmond Drive areas to residents in the West end, Bankhead or Farme Cross, local people want to see streets made safer and traffic speed curbed.

“This is a difficult and challenging agenda – and no one has a monopoly of wisdom on it. However, I want to see Rutherglen as a Royal Burgh Traffic Action Town, and I think this is an objective which would give some drive and direction to creating a 21st century residential environment which works better for people.”

Meanwhile, the issue of rat run roads was raised at Rutherglen Community Council, particularly in relation to Calderwood Road.

But the group was warned police cannot take action on drivers using the roads.

PC John Donnelly, of the local problem solving police team, said: “With regards to rat runs, our hands are tied because it is legal.

“We cannot dictate to people what roads they take - perhaps the roads department at the council can do what they can to make the road less attractive like they did with Woodside Avenue, where they put a lot of traffic calming measures into place.”

Traffic concerns are single biggest issue