Shoddy road will be repaired
Published 9 Apr 2012 12:30
A NIGHTMARE road branded West Dunbartonshire's worst will finally be fixed after a spirited community campaign.
Incensed villagers have battled for weeks for repairs to the maligned Milton Loan in Jamestown over fears the surface is a safety risk.
Nearby parents say the road is so bad their kids can't even play on their bikes.
But after the fight was taken all the way to last week's full council meeting, roads bosses have agreed to spring into action.
Villagers had earlier tried to persuade the council to repair the crumbling 100 metre route - which has been in a desperate state since 2000 when it was used as an access road to a construction of the new Levenbank Terrace estate.
But while the council's estate department bought the minor route at the time, they have had no legal duty to maintain the road - leaving responsibility with residents.
Even though the council has carried out minor repairs in recent years, the residents say they weren't good enough.
But after recognising the safety risk, the local authority has now agreed to assess the route and come up with a plan of action.
Representing the residents at the full council meeting, John Buchanan told councillors: "The road is not safe. There are clearly identified risks when the road falls into disrepair.
"One local resident, Bob Boddy, injured himself by falling on the road due to the uneven surface. This resulted in bruising but could have been a lot worse.
"Children and grandchildren cannot play outside on their bikes as the road condition is dangerous. One child fell off due to the loose gravel and grazed himself badly, also ruining his clothes in the mud."
It was highlighted at the meeting that if a substantial upgrade of the road was carried out, then the council might be held responsible to carry out work to over 100 similar non-adopted roads at a spiralling cost.
But it was agreed the road posed a potential health and safety risk to residents and others and councillors agreed action is required "as a matter of priority" to return the road to a safe condition.
Following a motion from Labour councillor Martin Rooney to address the problem, Council leader Ronnie McColl also ordered officers to inspect all the non-adopted roads and bring a report to the next HEED committee on the council's obligation with regards to health and safety and access issues.
After the meeting John Buchanan said: "The decision wasn't brilliant, but it wasn't the worst either.
"If they had said, 'We will upgrade it up to the approved standard' I would have been over the moon. What they did do last night is say they will look at the road and do some work to make it safe which is good because it isn't safe now."
Councillor Martin Rooney - who brought the issue to the council meeting after he was approached by the residents - said: "I am also pleased that the council has recognised the serious concerns raised by residents in Milton Loan and council officers will be inspecting the road to look at options available to make it safe."
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.
Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter Poll
Are you prepared for another onslaught of snow?
This Poll is now closed.
Yes (88.7%)
No (11.3%)
