The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Calls to improve safety at crossroads rejected
New measures not on Angus Council’s agenda despite plea from campaigners
Angus campaigners fighting for safety measures at a crossroads hope the council won’t be left with blood on its hands.
An engineering investigation was carried out at the junction of the A930 and B9128 in Muirdrum after local resident Alan Berg’s “video nasties” went viral.
The crossroads have been the site of many near misses over the years and concerns were raised by residents of vehicles flying straight through without giving way.
However, the realignment work – which would cost £62,000 – was not considered “merited” by Angus Council given the low accident record and councillors on the communities committee approved the recommendation of a ‘do nothing’ option.
Mr Berg, who has lived in Muirdrum since 1987, has recorded many motorists on CCTV failing to stop and has been living in fear of a fatal accident.
He said he hoped the decision does not come back to haunt the council.
“The junction still has drivers speeding across and not giving way – nothing has changed,” he said.
“I just hope that if there is an incident, I’m not around to pick up the pieces.
“A simple stop sign wouldn’t cost the council that much and could save a life.”
Mr Berg’s footage of poor driving behaviour was posted on to various social media sites and reported in the press.
He posted footage of the terrifying moment a driver took a leap of faith and drove straight through the crossroads.
He shared other videos with The Courier, including that of a red van skidding sideways to the junction in wet weather – with the driver barely pausing his conversation on a mobile phone.
Councillor Brian Boyd said: “I don’t see how we can put a price on people’s lives. If it had been done properly 10 years ago when the A92 was dualled, we wouldn’t have this dangerous worry now.”
Council leader Iain Gaul said the roads budget has to be prioritised to keep vital rural routes open, which was backed by fellow Kirriemuir councillor Ronnie Proctor who said some of his local communities are kept alive by a single route.
“We have to make difficult choices in hard financial times,” Mr Gaul said.
Ian Cochrane, head of technical and property services, said there have been no “recorded” injury accidents in the last three years at the junction and just one “recorded injury” accident at the crossroads since the A92 was dualled 10 years ago.
He added: “In addition, there is no funding allocation for the realignment of the junction.”
The junction still has drivers speeding across and not giving way – nothing has changed. ALAN BERG
The reluctance to implement any new road safety measures at a notorious Angus crossroads is symptomatic of the troubles facing all local councils. In previous years the relatively low spending required would perhaps have been nodded through but, in these days of austerity, every penny is a prisoner.
In itself closer scrutiny is no bad thing — we have no option but to trust our elected representatives to make the right decisions.