The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Lack of cash delaying action on crossing
People on foot struggle to cross safely as the road is so busy with traffic
Creating a pedestrian crossing to access a popular retail park in Arbroath “should be a priority” according to a local councillor.
A traffic study commissioned by Angus Council has identified the need for a pedestrian crossing at the Westway Retail Park.
However, there is currently no timescale for installing the light-controlled crossing there due to “costs and priorities given the current budget position.”
Arbroath man Duncan Young, who does not drive a car, has previously raised the issue at community council issues and in a letter to the council.
He said he was particularly concerned to observe a woman with a pram struggling to get across the Westway, which is off the A92 Arbroath to Dundee road.
He said: “The woman just couldn’t get across the road and it’s not an unusual occurrence.
“People are risking life and limb trying to cross this road at the moment.
“I raised this issue at a number of community council meetings last year and also wrote to the council about the issue but they still have done nothing to resolve this problem.
We are now considering the way forward for a pedestrian crossing on the Westway with regard to costs and priorities given the current budget position. ANGUS COUNCIL SPOKESPERSON
“I don’t know what it is going to take before the council does something to resolve this problem – someone getting knocked down and killed?”
However, an Angus Council spokesperson said the issue was being looked at by officers.
The spokesperson said: “The roads and footways within the retail park are not adopted and as such the council does not own the land.
“We have commissioned a traffic study for the Westway to assess traffic access to and from the retail park, as well as pedestrian and cycling access.
“The assessment confirmed that there is sufficient pedestrian movement on the Westway to justify a lightcontrolled crossing.
“We are now considering the way forward for a pedestrian crossing on the Westway with regard to costs and priorities given the current budget position.”
The retail park has several popular shops including Asda, B&Q, McDonald’s and KFC.
Arbroath West, Letham and Friockheim councillor David Fairweather said: “A lot of people walk to the retail park, especially from the Red Lion Caravan Park or from the nature trail.
“It is a busy road and I do believe that traffic lights there would be warranted.
“Because the retail park is now getting so busy, really something has to be done to help cars get in and out of the park as well.
“Drivers can be waiting a long time to turn right out of the park and perhaps a crossing could help alleviate that problem as well.
“It is an issue that has to be looked at and should be a priority.”