Road policing officers are to contact a local councillor after he sought expert advice on an accident blackspot near Dunblane.
At last week’s meeting of Stirling Council’s public safety committee, Councillor Ewan Dillon raised the issue of the A820 between Dunblane and Doune and calls from locals for speed limits and safety measures to be put in place.
He cited a case highlighted by the Observer earlier this year in which one resident had called for action after a car ploughed through his garden fence - the fourth time it had been flattened in as many years.
Councillor Dillon asked police representatives attending the meeting: “Is there any work being done to improve safety on the A820 or consideration for a speed limit on that road?”
Divisional Commander for Forth Valley, Chief Superintendent Alan Gibson, said: “I have also driven it many times. Police Scotland don’t control the speed limits, it’s the local authorities, although they do it in conjunction with us. We are just professional advisers.”
Area Commander for Stirling, Chief Inspector Caroline Logan, added: “Our local community policing officers are trained in the use of handling radar. If any constituents report any issues we can make our colleagues aware that it’s an area of concern.”
Councillor Dillon asked whether the officers would “advise” a low limit on the A820.
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However, Chief Supt Gibson said: “We have colleagues who have more expertise on this. I’m happy to have one of them contact you.
“Across Stirling there’s a whole range of speed limits.
“I was recently teaching my daughter to drive - which was a traumatic experience for those who haven’t done that with their children. What I would say to you is that there’s an incredible amount of speed limits - and when you are telling your daughter to slow down you don’t quite realise how many. It can go 20, 30, 40, 50 in the space of a mile.
“But for the science of it I will defer to my colleagues if that’s alright.”
Last month Dunblane resident Mike Nash told the Observer he wanted safety measures improved on the section of the A820 Doune Road following the most recent incident outside his home, on July 24, which saw a car smash through his garden fence at Gleniffier at around 9.30pm on a Sunday night after allegedly losing control in wet conditions.
Mr Nash said he was at his wits’ end after seeing his fence razed by out of control motors a staggering EIGHT times since he moved in 16 years ago. One of the other incidents was only in May this year, two months earlier.
On each occasion, cars travelling along the route, linking Dunblane and Doune, had ploughed through the wooden fence immediately after coming around a bend in the road just a short distance away.
Fortunately, nobody was injured in the most recent crash but Mr Nash added that there are four properties along the dangerous section of road and the residents there regularly have trouble exiting their homes and pulling onto the A820 due to the speed of the passing traffic.
He said: “Despite extra signs and slow painted on the road, it makes no difference. What is needed is rumble strips before the bend and a reduced speed limit, as the whole stretch is a constant danger to the four properties that line this road.
“Hopefully something will be done before there is a fatality.”
Following Mr Nash’s concerns, Stirling Council said it was carrying out a safety assessment at the location and that “appropriate action will be taken if required”.
