Residents who have campaigned for two years for safer roads around Bathgate will get nothing, West Lothian Council decided this week, due to a lack of funds.
The Executive heard that speed reducing measures at three sites in the rural hinterland around Torphichen would cost almost £100,000, and the council has no budget for the spending.
Residents have demanded the 40 mph speed limit be cut and pointed to poor sightlines, blind bends and summits on narrow winding roads with footpaths. Slackend crossroads is considered particularly dangerous by locals .
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And, after hopes were raised earlier this year when Labour backed a survey of the danger roads, Independent Councillor Stuart Borrowman said he was “exceptionally disappointed”, and suggested that Labour’s support for speed reducing measures had disappeared post-election.
In February, two months before the elections, the Executive voted in favour of introducing statutory consultation with Police Scotland on a 30mph limit for Slackend, Cathlaw Lane in Torphichen, and Westfield.
That paved the way for a decision on whether to spend up to £114,000 on signs and speed humps on the roads.
The council’s Roads Network Manager Gordon Brown spoke to the October meeting of the Executive. His report said: “there remains no justification for the making of permanent orders to reduce the existing 40mph speed limits on the B8047 Westfield Road, the B792 Slackend and Cathlaw Lane in Torphichen to 30mph at this time.”
In August the Executive agreed a motion that “notes concern by many in the local community with regard to the speed limits not being appropriate for the road conditions” and called “for a further report to be brought to a future meeting of the Council Executive outlining the options for works to implement the speed reduction measures.”
Traffic surveys do not show excessive speeds and there are no substantive accidents statistics - two elements which govern whether changes have to be made.
Mr Brown said at this week’s meeting that costings had been made of £97,300, broken down as : B8047 Westfield Road - £37,700; B792 Slackend - £43,400 and Cathlaw Lane - £16,200 for traffic calming measures.
He added: “It is still recommended by officers that, based on the evidence and data gathered previously regarding the original deputation request for a reduced speed limit, there remains no speeding or road safety issues on these three routes. The capital programme budget is fully committed and there is no funding identified to meet the associated costs set out in this report.”
The Executive backed the officer’s report and agreed no works should be undertaken. Depute Labour leader councillor Kirsteen Sullivan asked for the roads to be kept under review should the money become available next year , and this was agreed.
After the meeting, Councillor Borrowman told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I’m exceptionally disappointed as this runs counter to the experience of Torphichen residents and the evidence accumulated.
“Perhaps Labour’s pre-election view has change post-election.”
He added: “I intend to reintroduce this issue at the earliest permitted opportunity.”
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