28/1/2010Renewed call for resurrection of Fairlie bypass idea
After yet another accident on the A78 Main Road in Fairlie, local resident Ginette MacLean made a renewed call for the Fairlie bypass to be re-instated, the Largs & Millport Weekly News reports.
She told the community council that action needed to be taken on this dangerous stretch of road. It is the second accident to happen at the Causeway junction in the past year, and Mrs MacLean believes there is a danger that a more serious accident could take place and a loss of life.
The proposal for a Fairlie bypass hasn't been on the Scottish government list of projects for a number of years.
What do you think of the road safety and traffic situation in and around Fairlie? Is there anything we can do?
She told the community council that action needed to be taken on this dangerous stretch of road. It is the second accident to happen at the Causeway junction in the past year, and Mrs MacLean believes there is a danger that a more serious accident could take place and a loss of life.
The proposal for a Fairlie bypass hasn't been on the Scottish government list of projects for a number of years.
What do you think of the road safety and traffic situation in and around Fairlie? Is there anything we can do?
- Having noticed that pedestrian sidewalks of Main Road through Fairlie are much too narrow in many places for safety of walkers I was dismayed to see not long ago, that planning had allowed a further loss of areas of adequate width where the former grocery shop was converted to dwelling. More vigilance is needed to prevent such damaging changes. Anyone walking with loose coat or suchlike may be at extra risk from large passing vehicles.
- Walking on the pavements in Fairlie is dangerous, particularly at night when motorists do nnot obey the 30 mph sign. A by-pass is what is urgently needed but until that happens maybe speed bumps would at least slow down the traffic.
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In support of my suggestion in the "Wee Paper" of the installation of Average Speed Cameras to control speed through the village (endorsed by a candidate for Parliament no less!), a personal incident last Friday evening at the traffic lights at the Causeway caused some alarm.
Exiting the Causeway onto the Main Road I was advised by my passenger to wait a few seconds after the light had turned in my favour. He was obviously an experienced user of these lights as two speeding cars passed through the now red light on the Main Road before I could safely make my exit. What's the point in having lights that drivers ignore?!!
Average Speed Cameras (new generation now operated by Wifi) could provide a quick solution to control the traffic for the whole length of the A78 within the village. I am sure it would be a cost effective option compared to other measures which require reconfiguring the road structure - would also free Police time from having to attend the village with hand-held radar which have limited (and localised) success due to warnings issued by other drivers.
It was somewhat disturbing to see that Mr Lardner, having raised this subject with Councillor Elizabeth Marshall, now expects the proposal to "involve several agencies as well as NAC". Wonder how long that will take?