The plans would not only improve road safety, but would provide more parking as well as keep traffic moving in two central areas of the town. The roads affected would be around the new Lairdsland Primary School and the Townhead area of the town centre.
The school is due to open towards the end of 2014 and in preparation, the following amendments have been suggested:
- create a new road to link Strathkelvin Place and Donaldson Street
- extend Donaldson Street to provide school access
- add parking bays along existing and new sections of Donaldson Street
- add disabled parking bays on Strathkelvin Place
- introduce restrictions around vehicles stopping, loading and waiting
- create a one-way system and construct speed tables on parts of Strathkelvin Place and on new road.
There are also plans to alter the section of Townhead, between Luggiebank Road and Willowbank Gardens, in the town centre where illegal and indiscriminate parking on both sides currently create congestion. The changes include introducing a two-hour limited waiting time, as well as creating 25 new on-street parking spaces and a new loading bay.
Council Leader, Councillor Rhondda Geekie commented: "With the new school coming soon and the Kirkintilloch town centre masterplan underway, it is important that we look at how to keep traffic moving in the area. Driver and pedestrian safety is our first priority and these proposals aim to deal with existing issues and prevent any new ones in the future.
"These are busy, popular roads so I hope that people take the time to comment and help us to improve road safety and traffic flow."
(JP/CD)