Controversial road safety measures in Drymen to be axed after villagers object

In August this year, we told how residents there were given the chance to voice their opinions on the temporary measures. Changes had been made to the layout of the village square – including planters being installed on the roadway there.

A series of road safety measures being trialled in the heart of Drymen are to be removed after villagers there voted to end the trial.

In August this year, we told how residents there were given the chance to voice their opinions on the temporary measures. Changes had been made to the layout of the village square – including planters being installed on the roadway there.

The aim of the trial - initiated by Drymen Community Development Trust (DCDT) was to give residents and traders an idea how the village’s road network would look if a series of safety measures were introduced – including a new road layout.

The trial was met with differing opinions across the community there.

This week, the results of a survey, carried out by Drymen Community Council, on behalf of the Trust, showed that villagers had narrowly voted to end the trial.

A spokesperson for DCDT this week told the Observer: “Drymen Community Council undertook a survey of the local residents on behalf of the DCDT, in order to canvas opinion on the road safety trial. There were 460 responses and the results were 48.7% to continue the trial and 51.3% to remove the trial early.

“This was always intended to be a temporary trial to see whether a revised road layout would slow traffic in the village, provide a safe crossing point and be popular with the community.

“Given the results of the survey we are now organising to remove the temporary road layout and reinstate the previous layout.”

Back in August, we told how the trial was funded by the Road Safety Trust and approved by Stirling Council and overseen by independent consultants.

The trial was approved by the previous community council, before the recent community council elections.

The trial had been taking place for a number of months and had seen large planters placed on the road in the village square – narrowing the roadway there – with the initial plans dating back around two years.

The planters were placed in June after Stirling Council had contractors reline the road for the new layout.

The DCDT held a public meeting in August to update the village on progress with the trial, and address any concerns.

At that time, a community council spokesperson said: “The trial was initiated after a place plan survey, carried out by DCDT, ranked road safety as a key concern, and a safe crossing being seen as a high priority.

“I understand there was funding from Stirling Council for a crossing in 2021, however, the previous community council did not wish to support this, and subsequently the crossing did not proceed.

“The subject of speeding and of a safe crossing has been raised on numerous occasions over the last 15 years. Recently the village adopted the 20 mile an hour speed limit.

“The temporary trial has involved a variety of planters being used to create an altered road layout, slowing traffic, creating a left turn and forming a crossing point.

“The planters are placed in an area which was previously a taxi rank, this has now moved to a new temporary location, and a “no parking” area approximately the size of two cars with double yellow lines.

“Although a few people have made negative comments about the planters, many others have been positive about the trial, commenting that it has slowed the traffic passing through the village and allowing for easier crossing of the road.”

One concerned local resident contacted the Observer anonymously at the time to voice their concerns, saying that they fear the planters installed could ultimately lead to a road accident.

They said: “There’s going to be a bad accident. The road should be left as it is.

“There are times when there’s buses, delivery lorries or farmers in tractors trying to come through there and it’s chaos.”

The annoyed resident also raised concerns over the communication about the safety trial and detailed how surveys did not include commuters from surrounding areas who also use the route on a regular basis.

A number of social media groups were set up to oppose the proposals.

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