The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Protesters create goslow zones after crash
COUPAR ANGUS: Signs changed to 20mph at entrances to Perthshire town
Police have condemned road safety protesters who installed bogus speed signs at Coupar Angus, transforming the town into an unofficial go-slow zone for more than 24 hours.
The after dark operation was carried out amid growing calls for new safety measures, following the tragic death of two-year-old Harlow Edwards during the school holiday.
The altered 30mph signs appeared at all four entrances to the town. Community councillors said the protest highlighted the frustration felt by local people who say their calls for increased safety had gone unheard for more than a decade.
However, Police Scotland are now hunting those responsible.
Speed signs at a Perthshire town hit by tragedy were altered to emphasise the need to drive safely.
Campaigners have taken direct action to put the brakes on speeding motorists entering Coupar Angus.
All 30mph signs at the town’s four entrances have been altered, creating an unofficial blanket 20mph zone.
Protesters say calls for safety measures have been dismissed by council chiefs since they were first raised more than a decade ago.
The covert operation, which has been condemned by police, follows the death of two-year-old Harlow Edwards who was killed in an accident on Forfar Road during the school holidays.
The toddler was struck when two vehicles collided just after 3pm on Thursday October 13. Harlow’s older brother and sister were also seriously hurt. The youngster’s funeral will take place in Dundee today.
Police Scotland has stressed that defacing road signs is a criminal offence and potentially jeopardises their own enforcement efforts.
Community council chairwoman Wendy McCombes said the person responsible for the altered signposts had not been identified.
“I’ve read comments online about how this was illegal and irresponsible, but I think more importantly it shows the strength of feeling and frustration that there is in the town,” she said.
“People feel that Coupar Angus is being marginalised when it comes to road safety measures.”
The community council has now urged Perth and Kinross Council to arrange a public meeting to give people the chance to raise safety issues with roads officials.
Records show that concerns about Forfar Road and other routes were raised as far back as 16 years ago.
The watchdog group has also called for planned work on a traffic exclusion zone around Coupar Angus Primary School to be postponed until a new, wide-ranging road safety plan is in place.
“We need to look at what kind of action can be taken and it’s important to be able to discuss this with roads engineers,” said Mrs McCombes.
Police are now hunting for those behind the fake signs. They are believed to have struck after dark on Saturday.
Inspector Ray Cuthill of Tayside’s road policing unit said: “Coupar Angus is a close knit community and we are aware that the recent road traffic collision resulting in the death of a local two year old girl will have impacted upon many.
“Our thoughts continue to be with her family and everyone affected by the collision.”
He added: “Unfortunately, an individual or individuals have defaced some existing 30mph speed limit signs in Coupar Angus.
“Police Scotland regularly carry out speed enforcement activity in the area and altering statutory signs, as well as being an offence, risks jeopardising police efforts to enforce the existing legal speed limit.”
A council spokesman said: “While we understand there is a lot of concern following the road traffic collision, altering these signs is a criminal offence.
“Road safety is a priority for both the council and Police Scotland and we will continue to work to maximise the safety of the region’s roads.”
She added: “One sign has been damaged and will have to be replaced.” jabuchan@thecourier.co.uk
Sir, - When faced with the possibility of Scotland’s MP numbers being reduced from 59 to 53, SNP MP Angus Robertson complained that in Scotland we have a “democrat deficit”.
Does he not recall how many times here in Scotland we have voted since 2014? And with local elections to come next year, I’d suggest most of us are heartily sick of exercising our democratic franchise.
Mr Robertson’s attitude shows a problem not with a “democratic deficit” but democracy.
The aim of redrawing constituencies is to make them more even in terms of voter numbers so, in effect, creating a fairer system for each voter.
But Mr Robertson is more concerned with preserving the SNP’s power base of Westminster seats.
The aim of the boundary changes is to save money: £66 million over a parliamentary term. That this comes at a time when SNP MPs’ expenses are under the spotlight should surely be welcomed.
Does Mr Robertson really think boundary redistribution represents a democratic deficit?
The democratic deficit that bothers most Scots is his party’s refusal to accept the result of the 2014 referendum. Martin Redfern. 4 Royal Circus, Edinburgh.