Delays drive MSP right round the bend

David Knox 1607 - 1607 • Published 13 Mar 2009 12:30 0 Comments

Share this

BUNGLING council officials are being blamed for the failure to introduce a roundabout at lethal Leadburn Junction.

MSP Christine Grahame has blasted Midlothian Council for mismanaging the project - which has now been binned.

The Peeblesshire News revealed last year that the junction, which links the A701, A703 and A6094, had been taken off a priority list by the local authority.

And the blame for lack of progress at the accident blackspot was down to restructuring of funding from central government.

But the SNP politician has acquired internal council paperwork which, she believes, shows that mistakes are behind the stalled safety plans.

Ms Grahame told the Peeblesshire News: 'The documents I have obtained clearly show that funding had been identified to allow the work to begin and would have been put in place had the council effectively managed the project.

'Mismanagement of the project by Midlothian Council and their contractors is the reason this junction has not been improved.'

In the past decade three motorists have lost their lives around the deadly junction - the latest being Michael Newton from Lancashire three years ago when his car exploded into the neighbouring inn.

And dozens of others have had lucky escapes.

Widespread calls for major improvements led to plans for a roundabout being drawn up - with financial support coming from Scottish Borders Council, Midlothian Council and SEStran.

But since the last election funding procedures have changed from regional transport group dishing out cash to individual local authorities meeting costs themselves.

Ms Grahame added: 'Initially SEStran were asked to provide £300,000 but shortly before the project should have begun, officials at Midlothian Council realised they needed £850,000 to install the proposed roundabout as they had failed to budget for landscaping and other related works.

'In addition it also became apparent late on in planning stage that local landowners had not been consulted.

"Subsequently these landowners, angry at the lack of communication from the council, refused to give permission for the council"s contractors to access the land which pushed the project back and directly resulted in the identified SEStran funding for that year being lost.'

It is estimated that a roundabout would now cost around £1million.

Midlothian Council admitted they had supplied Christine Grahame with documentation under the Freedom of Information Act.

But they didn"t defend their corner. A spokeswoman told us; 'We provided a number of papers and information to Ms Grahame in response to a freedom of information inquiry she submitted.

"We also provided further information detailing the improvement works carried out to date at the junction and the accident rate at the junction.

'Improvements to the junction included the application of anti-skid surfacing, improved visibility splays, re-alignment of the A701 and A6094 roads as well as improvements to road signs and lighting.

"Leadburn is number 18 on the list of cluster sites in Midlothian being considered for further improvement. The Council carried out all consultation necessary.'

Tweeddale councillor Neil Calvert, who is also a director of SEStran, is frustrated by the local authority"s decision not to make the junction a priority.

He said: 'I don"t feel Christine Grahame"s remarks are helpful but I am disappointed that Midlothian Council have decided to use their capital expenditure elsewhere.'

A public meeting is being held at Howegate Village Hall on Thursday, April 23, concerning Leadburn Junction.

This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 13 Mar 09

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Peeblesshire News Poll

Are you in favour of wind farms?

This Poll is now closed.

Yes (70.0%)

No (30.0%)

Follow @peeblesnews