Issue - meetings

(i)            Presentation on A85 Road Safety looking at Communication and Scene Management – attendance by Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue and Scottish Ambulance Service.

(ii)           Road Transport Issues – feedback from Sybil Johnson, Argyll and Bute Council on the Working Group on road transport issues in Oban, Lorn and the Isles.

The Community Planning Officer gave an update following the last Oban, Lorn and the Isles Community Planning Group where the Action Plan was signed off and the Group agreed to focus on road transport and road safety.

Discussion took place around the A85 between Oban – Connel and the number of fatalities which have happened in the last year.  Adam McKenzie confirmed that there has been a downward trend in fatalities in Argyll and Bute as a whole, in particular on the A85 with motorcyclists.  He advised they have held Awareness Days in Inveraray for motorcyclists and there has been 6 people less killed than last year with an average of being down 50%.  He confirmed Argyll and Bute are doing very well due to the joined up multi-agency thinking and media support.

Discussion took place around the response time for all agencies to get to an accident, how long it takes for accident investigation and how things could be improved.

The Group then heard from Sybil Johnson, Senior Planning and Strategies Officer who provided information on the actions contained within the development plan.  It was noted that the key issues raised in the OLI area related to traffic management and parking.

Discussion took place on the road safety plans in place by Transport Scotland and the investigations that are currently ongoing.  The Group also noted that there needed to be further work in terms of alternative road access when the roads were closed because of road traffic accidents and the importance of communication from Traffic Scotland and other partners.