Speeding drivers are MP's target

Aug 22 2008 by Stephen Robertson

A CALL has been made to end speeding in Balfron and other rural villages.

Stirling MP Anne McGuire made the road-safety plea in the week that kids returned to school after their summer break.

Mrs McGuire said: “Following a consultation with Balfron residents and a recent telephone surgery, the overwhelming concern passed to me was about speeding traffic within the village, particularly around the schools.

“There were calls for ‘go slow’ signs at the beginning of the village, a pedestrian crossing on Buchanan Street and ‘20’s Plenty’ zones around the schools.

“Numerous residents also highlighted some real and potential accident blackspots within the village and I will be raising all of these concerns with the council and Central Scotland Police.”

Acknowledging reduced speed limits in Buchlyvie, Mrs McGuire said that further action was needed to address speeding in villages across the region as a whole.

She added: “More now needs to be done in all of the villages in this constituency, which have major roads running through them, to ensure the safety of children and older people in particular and I will continue to fight for this.”

Central Scotland Police said that it would welcome the opportunity to consult on the matter.

A spokesman said: “We would be happy to discuss the ongoing issues of motorists’ speeds and driving behaviour with Mrs McGuire. It is an issue we are aware of, and because of the community concerns which have been communicated to us, we have been very proactive in and around the villages along the A81 and A811 routes.

“We have had high profile patrols targeting these areas and enforcing the law where we come across offences being committed.

“Indeed, during the past weekend we carried out patrols of rural roads across the force area, in each of our three area commands, and 160 drivers were warned about exceeding the speed limit whilst others were issued with conditional penalties and reported to the Procurator Fiscal.”

The spokesman added: “The solution is not about enforcement alone.

“It will be achieved through educating drivers about the need to observe their speed closely in such areas and through collaborative working with the local authority, in particular, around other measures required to prevent speeding and reduce the likelihood of collision, injuries or fatalities on our roads network.”

Stirling Council said that traffic calming measures were already in place around schools.

Their spokesperson added: “We will continue to work with schools, Central Scotland Police and the local communities to address any concerns.”