Residents of Balbeggie are attempting to put pressure on the local authority to lower speed limits in and around the village as concern grows drivers are routinely ignoring those already in place.
Motorists are supposed to slow down to 30mph before they pass through the village but a local group says the limit is being regularly broken and is now pressing for the limit to be lowered further to 20mph to try and deter drivers from barrelling along at excessive speeds.
The group has started a petition asking Perth and Kinross Council to make the change as well introduce new 40mph “buffer” zones on all approaches to the village and install a roundabout at its south end where the A94 splits with the B953.
They would also like to see chicanes introduced on the A94 at the north end of the village and bollards reinstated at both ends to reduce the width of the road and restrict flows further.
Local resident Kevin Brown said last week the problem of speeding traffic has been getting “steadily worse” over the years and a growing number of people now think PKC needs to introduce further traffic calming measures before the planned Cross Tay Link Road (CTLR) is finished.
“You can go out any time of the day and stand for 10 to 15 minutes and someone will fly past you doing well over the speed limit – it’s quite shocking, actually,” he told the PA.
“I go out walking and running quite regularly and just crossing the road can be quite frustrating because of how long it takes with the volume of traffic.
“And we’re really concerned about the amount of traffic that’s going to end up coming through the village once the CTLR is finished and we just feel we need to do something now to slow it down.
“Nobody driving an HGV up to Aberdeen is going to go through Dundee when the CTLR is put in, they’re going to come through here and up to Forfar because it’s a shorter route and they’ll save on fuel.”
The petition had been signed by 379 people as the PA went to press on Monday (March 7).
A PKC spokesperson commented: “The speed limits in the village are clearly visible and drivers who ignore these are committing an offence.
“However, we understand residents’ concerns about the potential impacts of speeding and will consider this petition when it is submitted.
“There are already a number of traffic control measures in place. These include speed limit signs at either end of the village while the central selection of Main Street also has a part-time 20mph speed limit with amber flashing beacons during school hours.
“Outside the primary school there is a puffin crossing and coloured road surfacing.”
The spokesperson added: “We would like to reassure the community that a request for a 20mph speed limit in Balbeggie is currently being considered as are other possible traffic regulation orders, such as 40mph buffers approaching the village.
“We continue to monitor traffic levels and speeds in our communities so we can respond appropriately and this will continue after the CTLR is completed.”
