Fears new town centre road layout will lead to fatality

RESIDENTS have been angered after a council removed pedestrian crossings, traffic lights and kerbs from a busy road.

The £1.5 million shared space scheme was introduced last year in a bid to allow both pedestrians and motorists to use Kinross High Street equally. Roads and pavements have been levelled to the same height along the 80 yard stretch of road.

But local people fear that the changes will lead to someone being knocked over and killed.

Lighter-coloured paving with no signage has replaced pedestrian crossings, and several bollards have been scattered around the community square to guide vulnerable people. LED lights have been added, which locals say are so dimly lit they can barely see the bollards.

Richard Allcoat, owner of the Kinross Stamp Shop, said: “Somebody’s going to get killed. There will be a serious accident outside my shop. I see people trying to get across, looking around, not knowing what to do.”

A Perth and Kinross Council spokeswoman said: “The scheme is being monitored and a road safety audit is due to be undertaken within the next few weeks.”