Wendy urges Council to take immediate action over traffic blackspot

- Road safety must be improved -

The road junction at the crossroads of Kelvin Avenue and Huntly Road in Hillington Industrial Estate, is an accident blackspot and a tragedy waiting to happen.

Click here to view a video of Wendy and local businessman Liam McKeating discussing the problem

 There was one accident last Thursday with police in attendance for 4 hours and two accidents last Friday – one at 12 noon and one at 4pm in the afternoon.  The accidents have worsened due to Huntly Rd now being used for motorway access. But despite numerous incidents and repeated pleas for action, Renfrewshire Council have done nothing about it and the figures reveal that they’ve cut the funds that could pay for it.

The road markings have worn away and visibility is restricted by bushes. So accidents typically happen because vehicles travelling north along Huntly Road they do not see the junction with Kelvin Avenue and go straight through it at speed, causing collisions with other vehicles.

On 30th January 2009 the Council said they would investigate and on March 25th they claimed refurbishment works have been carried out nearby and the blackspot should be dealt with shortly. But today, and countless accidents later the blackspot remains.

Local politician Wendy Alexander hit out:

“There are now near daily accidents at this junction. Many are minor but they are costly in police and emergency services time. When I visited this week workers from local offices came out to plead for action now.

It is unacceptable that concerned citizens raised this issue in January but work has still to take place. Worse, the capital budget for minor road works has been more than halved from £203,000 to just £90,000 this year and traffic signal refurbishment slashed from £100,000 last year to £0 this year.

I am calling on Renfrewshire Council to act immediately to improve road safety at this blackspot. It’s only a matter of time before a very serious incident occurs.

Local businessman Liam McKeating, whose office looks onto the junction, has said:

“There have been many accidents at this junction since we moved into the office over two years ago yet the junction remains unchanged. There have been 3 in the last week alone.  Why months later are we still waiting for some improved road markings, trimming of bushes and extra signs that could resolve this issue? This would cost little in comparison to the damage done to date and the cost to attending emergency services.

The volume of traffic on this road has also increased significantly since the opening up of the junction between Huntly Road and Hillington Road – so this has become a fast motorway access route. Without action things can only get worse.”

I am of the opinion that unless there is something done to highlight this junction and reduce traffic speed on the approach to Kelvin Avenue there will be a fatality.”

Wendy said:

“Many of these accidents are probably not notified because only vehicles are damaged but the Police have attended the more serious incidents where personal injuries have occurred.  We need action now. Accident rates are rising. The council refuse to provide details of any projects under the minor roads works. This budget has been more than halved this year. Hillington workers want to know why they are still waiting. Where is the Council’s list of planned minor works and are they on it?  This dreadful delay at this blackspot is causing injury day in day out.