Preamble: It was proposed at the meeting on 17 Sept 2003 to invite
Roads Officials at East Dunbartonshire Council to meet with the Community
Council to discuss & if possible to take action on the considerable
concerns of the community that have been expressed over many years, &
on which little, if any, action has been taken. Mr. Winks made a presentation
to us on 17th January. This notice summarises our outstanding concerns,
and gives a structured list that can be dealt with by your officials.
Nothing was done after these meetings so residents (including our MSP
forced another meeting with the same officials early in 2006. Still nothing
has been done and matters have now been aggravated by the planning permission
to allow further development at the most dangerous bend of the A807 in
Bardowie.
The main roads that serve our community have hardly changed in width &
alignment since the 1960s and there has been an enormous increase in traffic.
The Balmore Road, A 807 Allander Toll to Torrance Roundabout
This is a preferred route for those travelling from East to West Central
Scotland allowing them to by pass Glasgow to the North and avoid congestion
through the Glasgow city area. Officials now talk of this road as a "Trunk
Route" yet it has the physical characteristics of a minor road. The
A807 is barely 6m. wide through Bardowie and there are two blind bends,
one of which has a long history of damaging accidents. The latest, the
fourth this year, occured on Nov. 15th. 2006. We are currently preparing
a map to show the incidents we know of to be presented here.
The problems for us are:-
Speeding
This has been dealt with by 40 mph limits between Balmore & Torrance
& by 30 mph limits through Bardowie & Balmore. There is also occasional
police surveillance. It is generally acknowledged that speed bumps could
be dangerous & are not appropriate. Our local police have now been
trained to use speed cameras and are watching this road. Double white
lines and other visible danger warnings through the villages could reduce
the accidents due to overtaking at junctions.
Access from side roads & houses
The once mooted bypass in the Haughs that was dependent on traffic surveys
to show critical figures, is unlikely to happen. It would have passed
through & across valuable green space, areas of important biodiversity
and local byways. It would have been in the floodplain and further eroded
our greenbelt.
Access from Glenorchard & Craigmadie Roads would be improved by mini,
or small roundabouts as at the western approach to Kilsyth. These would
also help to reduce speed. Sightlines should be improved.
Road Junction to Craigmaddie
The tall Electricity enclosure obstructs the view of drivers turning
into and off the Balmore Road.
Footpaths
Whilst these should offer the opportunity for cycle use and allow easy
access between villages for youngsters, they are underutilised. Some of
the reasons for this are that they are generally dangerous and unpleasant
being too near heavy traffic, narrow and not continuous. From Balmore
to Bardowie there are sections that are subject to flooding, need resurfacing
and lowered at driveways. Through Bardowie, an improvement could be made
by using the ground bought by the Council for road widening, but never
used. A new foot/cycle path needs to be made to link Torrance, Balmore
and Bardowie with Milngavie. The "village gate" bollards at
Bardowie obstruct the path. A considerable section of path opposite the
Rangers' practice ground has been destroyed by parking vehicles.
If East Dunbartonshire really has no money for making this road safer
it should be classified as a trunk road and transferred into the responsibility
of the Executive.
Rerouting the road through Bardowie as
planned in 1973 (The council bought the ground for these works at
that time) or a roundabout at the Station Road/Craigmaddie cross or
at the new entrance on the bend in order to slow the traffic at the
intersections to allow residents safe ingress and egress..
Provision must be made for bus stops and for waste pickup points off
the main highway that are safe for residents and the dustbinmen and
that do not block the sightlines of the traffic.
Crossing from the South pavement, where it ends at the dangerous bend,
to reach the North pavement must be made less life threatening than
today.
Provision must be made for safe movement through the villages by cyclists
and the disabled.
Site access during the new building works at the South Bardowie bend
must not be allowed to increase accidents. Another has just happened.
The Craigmaddie to Bardowie Road
This runs through a delightful rural landscape, including a Conservation
Area used by ramblers and cyclists for recreation, as well as by commuters,
local traffic, & farmers. Problems are:-
Width
It is barely a two-lane road, and when heavy vehicles such as lorries,
the community bus and tractors have to be passed, it can be hazardous,
especially at several narrow places.
We are not in favour of altering its rural charm by straightening, or
general road widening.
This would only encourage speeding. Those who use it are aware of its
twists and turns. However, there are two places at Barnellan where local
widening should be done. At one of these tyres have been ripped on the
enclosing stone wall, and at the other locals know they have to give way
to wider vehicles.
Speeding
There is no footpath. There is therefore considerable danger to pedestrians
especially at hidden bends. At present 60 mph is legal! Locals put their
lives at risk every day as they enter Craigmaddie from Barnellan, Tower
road and the sailing club with inadequate warning of the speeding rat
runners by-passing Milngavie. We want a compulsory 30 mph limit.
Flooding
There are at least three places where this happens for lengthy periods
each winter. Run off from fields due to disrupted field drains may be
partly responsible. Icy patches can result. The same icy patches occur
on the Ford Road and elsewhere. The water board has apparently reached
agreement at last with the farmers about the restoration of the field
drains. This problem seems to have worsened since the completion of various works in the parish and we are pushing our 2 lady councillors hard to respond.
Ditches
These while necessary to channel water, can also trap cars when they
pass on narrow roads, as at Fluchter and above the Ford. Could the ditches
be improved at these points?
Road Surface & Potholes
There are many places in need of improvement and some are dangerous.
The resurfacing of Tower Road has been very well received.
Road Markings
Visible indicators: solid white lines at bends would be helpful and cats'
eyes could be installed to make the many bends safer at night.
Rat Runs
We have suffered in the recent past from vastly increased traffic when
the main roads have been closed due to construction work at Rangers, and
repairs to broken drains. This has been particularly noticeable on the
lovely Ford Road where verges have been destroyed. Construction has now
started at Mugdock Water Works, and the traffic lights on the A 81 encourage
this minor road to be used by even more commuters. The situation will
only grow worse as the reservoir construction gets under way. At one time
we were told that this would be controlled in some way. What is the situation
now?
We are sure you will notice that the official responses are now pretty
obvious, mostly by their absence.
Almost nothing has changed.