Traffic island has no calming effect on Calderbank residents

Aug 5 2009 by Judith Tonner, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

Traffic island has no calming effect on villagers

CALDERBANK residents are battling roads officials over plans for a new traffic island which locals say will be nothing more than an additional danger.

They even took to the street to prevent contractors working for North Lanarkshire Council from installing the new feature on the village’s Main Street last week.

Neighbours say that insufficient public consultation was carried out, and residents are now being invited to discuss the issue at a special meeting tonight (Wednesday).

Residents halted last Monday’s planned work because they are concerned that narrowing a busy road by constructing the island will be a hazard to both vehicles and pedestrians.

Peter Owens, of the village’s regeneration group, said: “Nobody in the village is against traffic calming but the issue is where they’re placing this.

“The council want it on a corner but it’s already tight there when two HGV lorries are passing each other, and it wouldn’t be safe for anyone, especially children or elderly people, to be on the island in the middle at the time.

“It will also take away people’s parking spaces outside their homes and means that in an emergency an ambulance wouldn’t be able to park outside.

“We asked for the island to be placed outside the welfare hall but were told no because there’s a bus stop there; but with the current location, any bus stopping will back up traffic.

“An island won’t calm the problem of speeding in Main Street; we’ve also been told that children should use the crossing at the school to get there safely so in that case, what’s the purpose of this island and who will benefit from it?

“The council say that there was a public consultation but there wasn’t at any time; there was a meeting of the conservation society attended by one councillor, David Fagan, and the decision was made there.

“We want a real public meeting to see what people in general think; we’re quite willing to have traffic calming but what we’d really like is lights as the amount of traffic here justifies it, and it would also alleviate the rush-hour bottleneck problem between Calderbank and Chapelhall.

“Last week, when the workers arrived, we outlined our objections to the chargehand and after some phonecalls, they were ordered off the job – we hope we can stop this work until a full consultation has taken place.”

The council insist that consultations have been carried out as required, stretching over a lengthy period, and are now in the process of rescheduling the same project which the residents interrupted last week.

Alex Ramsay, the council’s traffic and transportation team leader, said: “We are installing a pedestrian refuge island on Main Street to make it easier and safer for people to cross the road.

“During the past two years, we have engaged with all groups interested in the plans, including local residents’ groups and the conservation society.

“Contractors arrived on site to begin the works and several residents came out to express concerns over the placement of the traffic island.

“The workers left the site after discussions, and we are currently reprogramming the works to ensure the safety of our contractor and the residents.

“I would stress that these works are designed to provide a safe crossing facility for the Calderbank community.”