WARNING SIGNS WORRY
Farmer who has to repair fence regularly fears serious accident
Worried Comrie residents are calling for better warning signs on a dangerous road on the outskirts of the village.
And local farmer Mairi Paterson is concerned that if something is not done soon there will be a serious accident on the notorious Langside stretch.
Mairi has to regularly repair the fence at the bad bend between Tigh Na Blair and Middleton after cars go straight through it, either from taking the bend too quickly or skidding in cold weather – a problem that is further exacerbated in winter because the drains are not doing their job.
She told the Herald: “Somebody took the gate out and seven stabs recently and they were lucky they weren’t killed.
“I dread coming to check the fence in the morning for fear of what I might find.”
Comrie residents are calling for better warning signs on the Langside bends between Braco and the village.
And local farmer Mairi Paterson is concerned that if something is not done soon there will be a serious accident.
Mairi has to regularly repair the fence at the bad bend between Tigh Na Blair and Middleton after cars go straight through it, either from taking the bend too quickly or skidding in cold weather – a problem that is further exacerbated in winter because the drains are not doing their job.
“Somebody took the gate out and seven stabs recently and they were lucky they weren’t killed,” Mairi told the Herald, adding: “I dread coming to check the fence in the morning for fear of what I might find.”
Mairi checks the fence along its length daily to see that it has not been breached, allowing livestock into the road.
She continued: “It’s practically a 90 degree bend. It all depends on the weather, especially if there’s a lot of frost or freezing rain, because the water runs down the road and the council is not very good at keeping the drains clear.
“People realise too late and they can’t stop. Some people go through the fence and then just try and put the stabs back in the ground but that doesn’t keep the sheep in. Others just drive off.
“Sometimes people will admit to it and we get the insurance, but the rest of the time we have to fix the damage ourselves.
“The sheep are out on the hill just now but they will be coming into these fields next week.
“I flagged it up to the community council in August but they haven’t heard anything back. I think they are fighting a hard battle [with PKC].”
Mairi would like to see slow down signs further back from the bend – a view shared by Comrie Community Council.
Gill Brock, chair of the local voluntary body, would like to see better advance warning signs as well as lines on the road approaching the bad bend, giving people plenty of time to slow down.
She said: “We need something more visible. Warning posts have been knocked down.
“We need more to be done here in terms of signage and lineage, and the ditches also need to be maintained better. Sometimes this area of road is running like a river.
“When the fences are down livestock get out and could cause further accidents.
“Perth and Kinross Council is responsible for this whole stretch of road. It’s PKC’s responsibility to keep the drains clear to stop the water running down the road.
“Why should the farmers always have to be repairing the fences?
“I know PKC don’t grit it because it is not a priority road but there are obviously drainage problems that need addressed.
“I would also like to see crash barriers at some of the steep sections of this road.
“People coming along here that don’t know the road can get into trouble. It’s a wider issue along the length of this road. I have brought this up before, but the community council will be bringing it up again with PKC following our monthly meeting on Thursday, February 10.
“We will be writing to the council and this will be included again.”
PKC was approached for a comment but the Herald had not received a response prior to going to press on Wednesday afternoon this week.