Peeblesshire News | News | Pushed to the limit

Friday, 5th December, 2008

Published: Friday, 4th July, 2008 12:00

Pushed to the limit

By David Knox

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A LINK road’s limit has been lifted after bungling road bosses broke the law.

Bemused residents in Cardrona watched on as workmen turned up last Thursday to remove the 30mph signs at the entry to their village.

And they were told they wouldn’t be going back up as transport chiefs had forgotten to get legal clearance for enforcing the speed limit.

The signs had been in place on the entrance to the west-end of the village from the B7062 – back road from Peebles to Innerleithen – for several years.

And restricted the speed of traffic either entering the village or heading onto the main A72.

George Davidson, who lives in nearby Mains Farm Steading, told the Peeblesshire News: “They should be extending the 30mph signs further out rather than taking them down.

“There is a desperate need for not only the 30mph limit to be reinstated on the full length of the link road between the B7062 and the A72 but also on the B7062 for the full length of Cardrona village.

“ People have to walk on this road and face traffic and it passes near the shop and bus stop, where children, cyclists, mothers with buggies and elderly residents have to cross and where accidents are most likely to happen.

“Nobody told us anything about the signs being taken away. The workers just arrived and took them down.”

Scottish Borders Council told us that they did inform local councilors and politicians about the need to take down the signs.

But they also admit it was a blunder which forced the removal.

A spokesperson said: “I can confirm that 30mph signs have been removed from the B7088 west of Cardrona, which links the A72 and B7062 via the bridge over the Tweed.

“These had mistakenly been left in place but the speed limit was not enforceable because the B7088 is not currently a restricted road.”

Several minor accidents involving vehicles have occurred around the western entrance to the village.

And local councillor Graham Garvie has asked for a full study to be carried out into the stretch of road. He said: “Apparently the signs were illegal but there is still a problem here that needs to be solved.

“A traffic survey is now being carried out to monitor speeds, vehicle numbers and pedestrian usage.

“This is a busy part of the village just next to the shop, golf course and bus stop.”

The traffic survey around the B7088, B7062 and Cardrona Way will be completed next week.

The council spokesperson added: “ Once the results are available, further consideration will be given to introducing a local speed limit.

“In the meantime, we would like to just remind drivers to exercise caution while driving on any road and remind them that speed limits are the absolute maximum and does not mean it is safe to drive at that speed irrespective of conditions.”

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