Three harmful rural roads in West Lothian are set to get new velocity limits and site visitors calming measures by the beginning of winter- two years after residents began a petition calling for safer roads.
Cathlaw Lane in Torphichen, Slackend crossroads which is a harmful staggered junction and the street main north out of the village of Westfield, are the three areas of concern.
Councillor Tom Conn advised the ultimate assembly of the Council earlier than the summer time break that the statutory course of for chopping velocity limits had began in April, with session with native individuals and the group council
He added that the outcomes of that session will come again to the council’s Government in August and the choice will likely be taken from there to progress it.
Work may begin by November. Prices have been estimated at round £114,000 however have but to be finalised.
The slim roads traversing the Bathgate hills north of the city have traditionally been 40mph zones. Villagers in Torphichen first introduced a petition to the council within the autumn of 2020 asking for these limits to be reduce and extra security measures put in.
They cited a listing of risks together with blind bends and summits, hid entrances, and lack of pavements past village boundaries. The 40mph velocity restrict they claimed was largely ignored on the slim roads.
The beginning of lockdown in early 2020, coupled with recommendation on getting out for train, additionally introduced extra site visitors onto the roads automobiles and cyclists, including to the hazards.
Preliminary surveys by roads engineers stated that accident statistics and speeds didn't advantage the introduction of site visitors calming measures.
Native Unbiased councillor Stuart Borrowman questioned that and backed the expertise of the villagers in Torphichen.
He was additionally vital of the dearth of funding within the ward- Armadale and Blackridge- which was some £5m lower than promised within the run as much as the 2017 election.
The Government - at it’s final assembly earlier than this Could’s election - finally backed a movement from the ward’s Labour member Andrew McGuire to kick begin the method by holding statutory session. The ultimate elements of that session will likely be promoting the proposals and in search of a response from the general public.
Councillor Borrowman this week advised the Native Democracy Reporting Service: “I’m happy that progress is being made and we glance as if new limits must be in place earlier than this winter.”
The Torphichen requires velocity limits additionally fuelled requires velocity restrict cuts throughout the county in Mid Calder.
Native Tory councillor Damian Doran-Timson was vital of the council’s reliance on accident stats to control street security measures and pushed for modifications.
Council roads engineers are additionally now trying on the removing of the 20mph zones arrange through the Areas for Folks programme launched in the summertime of 2020.
All of those zones had been non permanent and the identical statutory session must be gone via to retain any .
Do not miss the newest information from the West Lothian Courier. Signal as much as our free publication right here