MSP calls for traffic lights to be returned
The Strathkelvin and Bearsden politician has written to Chief Executive of East Dunbartonshire Council, Gerry Cornes, to request the lights are switched back on at Catherine Street/Kerr Street.
The SNP MSP told the Herald many constituents are worried about the safety of both pedestrians and motorists at the shared space scheme in Kirkintilloch town centre, which is still under construction.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdShe said: “I wrote to the Chief Executive to ask for the traffic lights to be re-instated at their original location at the Catherine Street junction as a matter of urgency.
“Many constituents have expressed their safety fears to me and I have personally witnessed a bus turning left into Cowgate having to take up the entire opposite lane due to the narrowed road layout.
“Without the traffic lights, or a white line to stop the traffic, I believe this is an accident waiting to happen.
“The connections for the traffic lights are still in the infrastructure and re-instating the lights would not be a major task.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“Crucially, it would alleviate the many fears of the visually-impaired and less able residents who have rightly been protesting against this new initiative from the outset.”
Sandy Taylor, Chair of East Dunbartonshire Visually Impaired People’s Forum, said: “I welcome any initiative by MSP Rona Mackay to bring sanity back to our town centre.
“It beggars belief how a road engineer could have possibly designed this nightmare. I will be presenting a petition on September 29 at the Scottish Parliament which calls for a moratorium on all shared space schemes, until Equality and Safety issues have been addressed.
East Dunbartonshire Council Chief Executive Gerry Cornes said: “We have received Strathkelvin and Bearsden MSP Rona Mackay’s letter and will respond to her in due course.”