Issue - meetings

Transport Scotland Update (TBC)

Meeting: 03/11/2021 - Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group (Item 5)

5 Transport Scotland Update pdf icon PDF 222 KB

Update by Transport Scotland

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Minutes:

The Group considered an update from Transport Scotland, which provided information around scheduled trunk road projects, including resurfacing works at Ballure; North and South of Tayinloan; Argyll Caravan Park; Ardrishaig; and Artilligan. Neil MacFarlane advised that the dates planned for these works could be subject to slight change due to weather conditions.

 

Neil advised that a repair of the sea wall at Inveraray was scheduled to be complete and traffic lights removed by mid-November. He also noted that works were underway to install a footway between Minard and Crarae Gardens, with hopes that this would be completed within the next financial year.

 

Neil confirmed that he and his line manager would be doing a route tour towards the end of the week, and would take time to look at Aqualibrium Avenue, as well as the Hall Street works in Campbeltown which were nearing completion. He noted that surface treatment of the footways in Hall Street, to match other footways in Campbeltown, would be undertaken in Spring 2022.

 

Neil also highlighted a number of Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs) which were in place for upcoming scheduled events such as bonfires, firework displays and Remembrance Sunday events, encouraging people to allow additional time for their journeys where necessary.

 

Councillor Horn raised concerns around overgrown trees and shrubs at the edge of the road near Barfad Cottage, Tarbert, causing issues for HGV drivers and requested that this be investigated during the scheduled route tour. Councillor Horn agreed to forward more specific directions for the area affected to Neil by e-mail following the meeting and Neil confirmed that he would highlight this to BEAR Scotland’s Landscaping Manager as a programme of cyclical vegetation clearance was underway. Councillor Horn also requested that the requirement for signage near Carrick Cemetery to indicate the potential for cars crossing the flow of traffic be investigated again due to ongoing concerns.

 

Ian Brodie asked if the resurfacing works at Campbeltown Airport had affected any previously scheduled roadworks. Neil confirmed that some schemes had been postponed until a later date, while other roadworks had been supplied by alternative quarries, but the overall programme remained uncompromised.

 

Discussion took place around road safety issues at the junction of Aqualibrium Avenue and Burnbank Street, with Councillor Armour, Valerie Nimmo and Margaret Wallace highlighting the need for urgent action to prevent a serious accident. Valerie Nimmo noted that she was already aware of one serious incident at the junction where someone had been knocked down by a car. Neil confirmed that following previous discussions around this, he had consulted with BEAR Scotland’s Road Safety Engineers and a decision had been taken that any short-term solution in terms of barriers could create a separate issue and the disadvantages of this could outweigh the benefits. Neil noted that a topographical survey had now been completed in the area, and although it may not be possible to implement a short term solution, this could potentially be addressed when implementing the new controlled crossing on Aqualibrium Avenue which would also involve looking at ways to improve the wider area for cars, pedestrians and cyclists. Neil confirmed that he would observe vehicle movements in the area during the route tour with his line manager to see if anything could be done and Councillor Armour encouraged them to visit the site at various times of day in order to fully appreciate the issue.

 

Decision

 

The Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group considered and noted the information provided.

 

(Reference: Report by Neil MacFarlane, North West Area Manager, Transport Scotland, submitted)

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