TWENTY YEARS AGO Friday January 23, 2004
Lochgair 40 zone joy
Villagers of Lochgair, on the A83, were rejoicing this week when, after 18 years of campaigning, a reduced speed limit came into action in their village.
On Monday the stretch of the A83 through Lochgair became a 40mph zone rather than part of the national 60mph limit, open road.
New speed limit signs were erected over the Christmas period but were initially covered in black plastic.
The speed limit order was passed by Scottish Executive ministers on January 8 and the signs were unveiled on Monday.
One of the main driving forces behind the new limit was Lochgair resident Elspeth Wells who obtained petition signatures from fellow villagers and many others. With Mrs Wells were West Lochfyneside Community Council, Councillor Alison Hay, whose ward includes Lochgair, Argyll and Bute MSP George Lyon and Strathclyde Police, who all played a part in securing the speed limit.
Mrs Wells said it was even more important now that there were more children in the village and added: “We are all delighted that the new speed limit is now in force.
“Every permanent resident and holiday home owner wanted it and a number of visitors too.”
She explained that her petition had gained signatures from as far afield as Australia and Canada.
Mrs Wells said that the villagers wanted to thank Argyll and Bute MSP George Lyon, who helped to get the new Lochgair limit through the Scottish Executive and Strathclyde Police, who had supported it.
Mr Lyon said: “I am extremely pleased that the Scottish Executive has listened to the pleas of the local community and imposed the speed limit and this stretch of the road. Hopefully the community will now feel much safer when they try to cross from one side of the village to the other and I am sure that the local traffic police will enforce the limit.”
Craignish-Glenaray Councillor Alison Hay welcomed the introduction of the reduced limit, saying: “It has been a long time arriving. It is a very dangerous part of the road with two accesses that are fairly blind depending on which direction you are coming from.
“No doubt all the new sign posts will draw people’s attention.” 2004: Delighted Lochgair villagers, including lead-campaigner Elspeth Wells, were joined by Argyll and Bute MSP George Lyon, fifth from left, as they took to the street to welcome the new 40mph zone through their village. Also in attendance were road policing officers from Strathclyde Police, who will be responsible for enforcing the limit. morning. Islay has escaped relatively lightly with all roads remaining open and no stranded vehicles.
Monday afternoon was bad everywhere and when it became apparent that the blizzards were going to last, schools closed early and the children were taken home.
In spite of repeated road blockages, supplies of bread have still been reaching Mid Argyll and Kintyre with only one shop in Lochgilphead reporting low stocks.
Inevitably lorries have been taking longer to make the journeys but so far all the goods reached their destination.
Police have reported no serious accidents, as few people are venturing out unless they absolutely have to.
However, a collision did occur on Islay between a snow plough and a tractor with no injury to either party.
On Wednesday afternoon two lorries collided at the Rest soon after it had become passable for the first time in several hours and blocked it once more.
Gritters and snowploughs have been working non-stop for virtually two weeks and Mr Allan MacDonald, area engineer at the Roads Department in Lochgilphead, told how they had not even finished “mopping up” after the last spell of bad weather.
He had nothing but praise for the gritters and roadmen “the hours they have put in have been tremendous I have been exceptionally impressed with the effort they have all been putting into clearing of roads”, he said.