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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Nicola Garscadden

Petition calling for traffic calming measures on 'danger' East Kilbride road lodged

A petition calling for traffic calming measures on a "dangerous" East Kilbride road has gained more than 100 signatures.

The call for action has been spearheaded by local Westwood resident, Kris McFadyen, who submitted the petition to South Lanarkshire Council.

He is calling for the local authority to improve safety measures on the busy Westwood Hill - saying he believes it is only a matter of time before someone is killed.

Kris, who has support from others in the area, says speeding traffic makes crossing the road perilous - particularly for older residents, those with mobility issues, disabled people and families.

He told Lanarkshire Live: "Over the past 20 years the road has become busier and busier.

"The road hasn't changed but the volume of traffic has increased massively - and there are drivers who go well over the 30mph speed limit.

"It is extremely perilous for people to cross, particularly at a bit of a blind spot - you think there is a lull in traffic and then someone will come flying over the hill and you don't see them till the last minute.

"There are a real lack of pedestrian safety measures in Westwood, like zebra crossings for example, that you see everywhere else in East Kilbride.

"In the 21st century being able to cross the road safely is a basic human right.

"Crossing this road, you are seriously taking your life in your hands and as far as I am aware there has been several near misses.

"But it seems that it will take someone being badly injured or killed before something is done - and that's not acceptable."

The petition states: "The purpose of the petition is to persuade the Council that the provision of traffic calming measures/pedestrian crossing facilities on Westwood Hill is both desirable and a necessity.

"This could be pedestrian crossings and traffic calming road engineering which would be serve to reduce the speed of traffic and make Westwood Hill safer for pedestrians to cross.

"In the 21st century having public/pedestrian safety measures should be a given, a standard and not something that the council may provide if officials see fit.

Residents say speeding traffic makes crossing the road perilous for pedestrians (Stuart Vance/ReachPlc)

"The onus cannot and should not be placed upon Police Scotland alone to deal with the majority of drivers who travel at speeds far in excess of the 30 mile an hour statutory limit.

"By placing all responsibility upon Police Scotland, Council officials are negating the responsibility that they have for public safety."

Westwood councillor, Gerry Convery, said that while he sympathised with residents, having raised issues of traffic calming measures and pedestrian crossings in the area for a number of years, he said there were "procedures that had to be followed and criteria that had to be met".

He went on to say that statistics that measure hospitalisations, injuries or deaths as a result of road accidents have not met the required threshold and that speeding is a "police matter".

But EK MP, Dr Lisa Cameron, said: "I'm supporting local residents in raising these issues with South Lanarkshire Council and am aware there have been significant concerns raised regarding pedestrian safety and the need for traffic calming measures in Westwood Hill."

Colin Park, the council’s head of roads, transportation and fleet, said: “We monitor and review our roads to ensure appropriate measures are in place.

"This is undertaken within a framework of set criteria to help ensure the same standards are applied in different areas.

“We are aware of the concerns raised for this section of road and once the petition is submitted this will be considered.”

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