Speeding drivers bring terror to Milngavie roads
SPEEDING drivers are putting lives at risk according to residents in the Claremont area of Milngavie — which houses young families and the vulnerable in a care home.
Problems are compounded by the fact that there are no pavements and gates open directly on to the road between parked cars.
Residents fear a fatality is just around the corner as drivers regularly ignore the 20mph signs and are calling on the council to install physical speed restrictions in the area which is an approach route to the local bowling club.
Billy McIsaac of Claremont Gardens said: "Council inaction is putting lives at risk in this area and if something isn't done soon it will have blood on its hands.
"I could have been killed last week when a speeding van missed me by inches and I shudder to think the outcome if it had been a child that had stepped out."
Mum Emma Bond said her eight-year-old son has narrowly missed being hit by vehicles as he stepped through their gate and explained: "I have taught him to be road conscious from an early age — and I believe that he is.
"But, even the most traffic-aware child doesn't stand a chance when faced with a van travelling at least 20 mph down Claremont Gardens."
In response to the Herald's call a spokesman for the council said the roads in the Claremont area are private and therefore not the council's responsibility.
This is exactly what has frustrated the residents for years and they have lodged with the Herald a letter from the head of roads several years ago which states "the roads are public and accordingly their maintenance is the responsibility of East Dunbartonshire Council".
Mrs Bond continued: "Despite a series of accidents and near misses like this we have no physical speed restrictions.
"Van drivers and taxi drivers completely ignore the 20pmh sign.
"This week a van driver did a three point turn at speed at the bottom of the gardens and sped back up it.
"I flagged him down to ask him to slow down and was given verbal abuse about how he wasn't driving much over the 20mph speed limit.
"When I explained whatever speed he was doing was too fast, and that he would never have seen a child in time to stop, he said 'what child'?
"He hadn't even seen my son who had been holding my hand the whole time."
Residents say several factors have exacerbated the problem recently including the fact that the council took some of the bollards away from the parking bays at the bottom of Claremont Gardens.
Also the pedestrianisation of the precinct has impacted on the problem as drivers are using the gardens as a "rat run".
Residents are calling for removed bollards to be replaced immediately and a 5mph speed limit enforced by road bumps on Claremont Gardens and the two adjacent lanes. Mr McIsaac said local councillors who ignore their plight will do so at their electoral peril.
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Weather for Milngavie
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 4 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
