Quick gear change over road junction

Oct 24 2008 by Edwin Lawrence, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A DODGY U-turn was made by a council when its new road lay-out proved a flop.

South Ayrshire Council had to swiftly remove a Keep Left sign and road markings.

The U-turn came came after only a few days’ of new priorities at the Isle of Pin road in Troon.

And it followed residents branding the new lay-out ‘an accident waiting to happen’.

The council claims the change came as a result of a request from a resident.

And it says it was ‘non-compliance’ by drivers which forced the U-turn.

Troon resident Kenneth Ferguson said: “Goodness knows why they decided to change things.

“Cars coming from Fullarton Estate took the right hand fork if they were heading into Troon.

“And cars going out of Troon took the left hand fork.

“But the change saw cars heading into Troon having to go left.

“And this meant they were having to swing right, across the main road and on to a blind corner.”

Mr Ferguson blasted: “This was a really stupid idea.

“A danger junction was created for drivers heading into Troon, as they were having to turn right on a blind corner.

“I witnessed a near-accident when a driver in front of me turned right

“And a car heading out of Troon came round the corner – albeit too fast – and they missed by inches.”

A spokesperson for South Ayrshire Council said: “A resident of the Isle of Pin Road had requested the council change the road markings to address a potential head-on conflict between vehicles turning right into Isle of Pin Road and vehicles turning left out of it.

“The markings were adjusted, but they presented further problems for right turning traffic into Isleof Pin Road and because of this, coupled with a high level of non compliance to the markings, it was decided to reinstate the original lay-out.”