A number of local farmers and landowners who live along the stretch of A78 which recently saw another tragic accident have called for further review into safety measures. One such farmer contacted local Conservative parliamentary candidate, Jamie Greene ‘desperate for someone to listen’ according to the owner.
In a letter addressed to Mr Greene, one owner from Low Boydston farm, Mrs Irene Wilson, was quoted as saying "I sincerely am hopeful that some immediate practical measures can be taken to ensure safety for all users of this notorious and dangerous road."
She added that "It is a daily hazard for us to operate our business on this road, both the junctions at Low Boydston and Glenhead farms have become hazardous. We are operating numerous slow moving farming vehicles such as tractors, trailers, cattle floats and articulated lorries, entering and exiting the fast moving A road. Many drivers are also completely unaware of the potential hazard that farming vehicles face. We are trying go about our daily business. Any help to address this situation would be greatly appreciated by many of us who live near, work on and use this stretch of road."
The farm, which runs along the patch of the road connecting Ardrossan and Seamill, has already written to North Ayrshire Council, Police Scotland and Transerv asking for numerous measures to be put into place to help mitigate the risk of accident. Suggestions include: new road signs warning drivers to the dangers of slow moving farm vehicles, increased speed monitoring by Police and even suggesting a potential reduction in the speed limit on that section of the road.
Mr Greene said "There have been four tragic fatalities on this short section of the road alone and countless other incidents. Road safety is a complex and multi-facetted subject matter, but the residents and business owners on this particular stretch of road feel frustrated, they know this road better than anyone as they face it day in, day out. I was told that Transerv responded to Mrs Wilson saying that there was no budget for further measures and there seems to be some blurred lines on where responsibility lies for safety on the road.
My supplication is simple, I would like to request that all relevant parties come together for a frank discussion on what can be done to help improve safety on the A78. By listening to the views of people like Mrs Wilson and her neighbours, who evidently feel like their suggestions have not been given due credit, perhaps some simple and cost effective measures can be put into place. In the meantime our thoughts go out to everyone affected by the recent tragic incident."