Concerns over risks by overhanging branches

Road Safety: Complainer says she has been ‘fobbed off ’ by Bear Scotland

Concerns have been raised about dead trees hanging over a major north-east road posing a danger to motorists.

Branches have already fallen on to the A96 at Pitmachie and also at Pitcaple. Now locals fear the dead wood could land on a car and lead to people being seriously injured or even facing death.

Pat Kissock lives in Dunblane but is a regular user of the road due to her frequent trips north visiting her mother in Huntly.

She has contacted Bear Scotland, the organisation in charge of the maintenance of trunk roads across the country, but claims she has been “fobbed off ” despite her complaints about the trees being dangerous.

The road maintenance firm said staff were carrying out regular safety checks and were seeking to speak with landowners.

Ms Kissock has vowed to continue her campaign for action.

She said: “I was out to check on Saturday and a number of branches had fallen off on to the road.

“I have contacted Bear (Scotland) twice but have been ignored.

“They’ll say it’s private land and there’s nothing they can do, but I don’t think that’s strictly true as they can take them down and bill the landowner.

She added: “Dead trees are very dangerous and someone could be seriously injured or even killed.”

A spokeswoman for Bear Scotland said safety across the nation’s trunk roads was its “top priority”. She added: “We look to keep vegetation away from impacting motorists on routes.

“We have been notified of concerns from members of the public regarding trees at these locations and a recent survey was carried out on the A96 to check for any overhanging branches in the area.

“We’re working to establish if the trees are outwith the trunk road boundary and therefore are the responsibility of adjacent landowners and if so we’ll work with them to address any safety issues that could impact trunk road traffic.” The spokeswoman said Bear Scotland would continue to carry out weekly safety patrols.

Photograph by Kami Thomson SCENE: The A96 north of Pitmachie has become the focus of road safety concerns regarding tree branches.