Date is set for decision on speed limits

Proposed changes to the speed limits in Coupar Angus are to go before a council committee early next month, it has been announced.

An extension of the school-time 20mph limit onto Forfar Road, Larghan View and part of Princeland Road in the town and an extension of the 30mph limit on the Coupar Angus Road, also known as Meadowside, will go before the March 8 meeting of the Perth and Kinross Council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee.

Should the changes be approved, the formal process of implementing the proposals should take place around the end of April.

The news came to light at the most recent meeting of Coupar Angus and Bendochy Community Council, held last week. Other traffic-calming measures on the Forfar Road at Larghan Park were also discussed at the meeting including the installation of new traffic lights, countdown markers on the road approaching the town and road markings.

Improvements to street lighting in that area and widening of the paths were also discussed.

At the meeting, community councillors and members of the public agreed that the preferred option would be for the installation of the new traffic lights at the junctions between Forfar Road, Princeland Road and Coupar Angus Road.

The Blairie understands that the next stage in the process is for traffic modelling to be carried out to investigate how the traffic signals will affect traffic flow and whether the signals should work independently or be linked.

The findings will be shared with the community council.

In a statement, Councillor John Kellas, convener of the enterprise and infrastructure committee, said:“We will continue to work with elected members and the community on further traffic calming measures as quickly as possible.”

In addition, work is due to start on a possible solution to ease traffic congestion on Queen Street in the town next Monday, February 27.

The proposals, which were put forward by Perth and Kinross Council roads officers and backed by community councillors in December, involve creating a priority give-way system on the road, widening the pathways on both sides of the road by the steeple and narrowing the carriageway.

The proposed build-out would be around 20 metres along Queen Street from the traffic lights.

The council’s original proposal had been to widen the pavement on the steeple side of the road only. However, the decision was taken to put the build-out on the other side of the road as well following feedback from local people at the November meeting of the community council.

Locals and campaigners have been calling for action to be taken at the junction of the A923 and the A94 for several years, pointing out the dangers from large farm vehicles and lorries that struggle to get along the road and often mount the pavement to pass other vehicles.

As well as the potential threat to pedestrians using the pavements along the road, residents have also complained that their properties are being damaged by the heavy vehicles, with cracks appearing in their walls.