Daily gridlock in city is getting worse
Dear Editor
May I respectfully suggest it is high time the Observer sent reporters out into the streets of Stirling to report on the increasing chaos on Stirling’s roads.
This, in my view, is due to the perennial ineptness of Stirling Council’s roads department in planning road works – especially unnecessary and irrelevant road works – leading year after year to daily gridlock.
I have just had a report that all traffic in Riverside is at a standstill, and has been for some considerable time, with no prospect of unravelling the mess unless our non-existent police turn up and take charge.
There are three sets of traffic lights there, which are changing so frequently, I am told, that nothing is moving. I was in a Park-and-Ride bus the other day, which sat and watched five changes of lights before it could move at all.
Is it any wonder that Stirling perennially has the reputation of having the worst roads department in Scotland. Where do they train the staff, if at all? If I had managed like that in British industry, I would have been sacked.
As you must be aware, there have recently been regular mile-long tailbacks in Causewayhead due to roadworks at the Stirling Bridge junction, following almost as long tailbacks at the Sainsbury traffic lights. There was no co-ordination, and the additional hazard of the rugby ground entrance in the worst possible place just added to the chaos. This inevitably sent people in droves to seek alternative routes, leading to more chaos!
Next year there will inevitably be the worst traffic chaos in the city’s history due to the closure of Kerse Road for no less than six months, approved by Stirling Council. The council could have stopped this, but they won’t because they are like rabbits caught in the glare of headlights. Who let these idiots out of their cages?
As for the overall planning of Stirling’s roads infrastructure over many years, words fail me.
Name and address supplied
Dear Editor Keith Brown MSP quite rightly berates Stephen Kerr MP for not standing up in the House of Commons and making a stance on the impact Universal Credit will have on our community.
Unfortunately, Keith himself is guilty of keeping quiet, refusing to stand up and take a stance in our own Holyrood regarding the Park of Keir development.
These proposals will have a detrimental economic impact on our community’s sport and leisure facilities, especially so at Stirling University, as well as on local hoteliers once the four-star 150 bedroom hotel is built. As the congested routes around the Keir roundabout worsen further still as construction of the houses, hotel and sporting facilities begins, the additional journey time will impact not just on the local economy but all business traffic routing through the area. Paul Shaw Argyle Way, Dunblane