We won’t extend road to nowhere
Council chiefs have categorically ruled out creating a short stretch of new road to serve Arran’s first council houses being built in a generation.
This is despite the fact the existing ‘road to nowhere’ will have to be extended when a second development is built in less than two years’ time.
Residents in the Springbank area of Brodick had been under the impression, it now seems wrongly, that a new road would be built to cater for the 34 new houses to be built behind Brathwic Terrace and a second development nearby.
As reported in last week’s Banner North Ayrshire Council has now unveiled its plans for the site, which are the first new council houses on Arran for more than 30 years and will have a range of types of accommodation. Work is expected to start next spring with completion a year later.
A second development of 20 houses is planned by the Trust Housing Association by 2020/2021 near Springbank Farm which will require an extension of the existing dead-end road sometimes called Springbank Way.
However, residents are worried that the new development will see many more cars using the already busy Brathwic Terrace, as well as construction traffic during the building work.
Tom Tracey, chairman of the Arran Economic Group, said that while a new road was discussed he did not think there was even a committment given. He said: ‘I would have thought the new road is needed to future proof the new development and avoid traffic weaving through the existing housing as well as supporting the new Trust Housing development.
‘The proposed number of houses is an increase on the previous announcement of 26 but I don’t think changes it from a small development to a big development in a village the size of Brodick.
‘Also, it has to be balanced against the real and increasing hardships being suffered by young local working residents in need of affordable accommodation and the new working residents needed to support health and social care, education, and the general economy.’
A North Ayrshire Council spokesman said: ‘There are currently no plans to construct a new public road in order to serve the proposed development.
‘The proposals consist of 34 new dwellings, which would equate to approximately 15 additional vehicle movements at peak times, using typical census traffic movement data. The route used by these vehicles would be via Brathwic Place to access the wider road network at Alma Road onto Shore Road. The overall number of houses being accessed via Brathwic Place, including the 34 proposed new homes, is still significantly below the maximum number of dwellings recommended from a single access point within the council’s roads development guide.’