Largs resident: 'Race track' worries 'falling on deaf ears'

Gerry McDonald, who lives at the Hollywood residential development at the north end of the town, says his concerns over drivers breaking the speed limit on the trunk road have gone unheeded by the authorities.

Mr McDonald asked members of Largs Community Council (LCC) what more could be done to back his calls for average speed cameras on the A78 approaching the town from the north - a plea he originally made at an LCC meeting a year ago.

Mr McDonald said: "I don't see this as a policing issue. However, I am getting to the point that I would ideally like to see some speed detection equipment.

"But having more policing on the route would also act as a deterrent.

"I don't feel my concerns have been taken seriously. Anyone can come along to my house on Saturday evening and see that it is a race track.

"In fact, it is the same most evenings. It is unbelievable seeing the traffic screaming past, and it isn't just cars. Sometimes it is motorbikes, and sometimes it is buses.

"Ideally speed detection equipment is the answer.

"We were told during the last speed detection survey that the average speed was 39.6 miles per hour on that route, but we need to know what the top speed is."

30mph limit in Largs but speeders ignoring it, claims Gerry McDonald pictured. (Image: Newsquest)

A 40mph limit is in place on the road as soon as motorists approaching Largs from the Skelmorlie direction pass the first houses at the north end of the town.

The maximum speed limit reduces to 30mph a few yards south of the entrance to the Hollywood development where Mr McDonald lives.

Mr McDonald branded the speeders 'lunatics' and said: "Come and have a meeting in my living room. You just need to look outside to see you are facing a race track."

Community councillor Frank Alexander suggested extending the 30mph limit on the A78 to the northern edge of the town, similar to the limit south of town, which was extended to Largs Yacht Haven around 20 years ago.

His LCC colleague Jamie Black suggested a new traffic survey measuring maximum speeds on the route, and offered to write to local MSP Kenneth Gibson supporting Mr McDonald's concerns.

Councillor Ian Murdoch (Independent, North Coast) said he had pushed the issue as far as he felt he could with Amey, the maintenance company which is responsible for the A78 under a contract with the Scottish Government.

He, too, suggested contacting Mr Gibson to re-state concern over the speed limit in the area.

Cllr Murdoch added: "It has been raised by [Conservative councillor] Tom Marshall and myself and police have given it extra patrols.

"You just need to look at the monthly crime reports to see that the area has been given extra attention."

40mph speed limit signs at the northern entrance to Largs - though the 30mph limit doesn't kick in until drivers have passed by the entrance to the Hollywood development where Gerry McDonald lives. (Image: Google Street View)

Mr McDonald responded: "These speed limits are the maximum. People shouldn't be exceeding the maximum, and you don't have to drive at 40mph in a 40 limit. You can drive less. Likewise for a 30 mile per hour limit."

Mr Gibson said: "I  was recently contacted by representatives of Largs Community Council regarding the recurring issue of excessive speeding on the A78.

"A great deal of concern was expressed about the speed at which vehicles are travelling between Largs and Skelmorlie on the A78 on an ongoing basis, but particularly on weekend nights. 

"It seems counter intuitive that the 30mph limit changes to 40mph within the residential part of Largs.

"I contacted Stuart Dougan, locality police inspector to ask him to make the case to Police Scotland’s West Safety Camera Unit to discuss supporting additional speed cameras on this stretch, or at least enhanced vehicle activated signage along that stretch of the A78."

In his response, Inspector Dougan said: “I have also been in contact with some of the residents from Greenock Road in Largs regarding this. I will pass this on to our road policing team and will liaise with the camera unit, who are regularly on that stretch.

"Given that this has been a longstanding, constant problem I also asked the interim chief executive of Transport Scotland, Alison Irvine, to instruct survey data collection to be carried out at said location, as well as speed limits to be reduced to 30mph within the residential part of Largs."

Mr Gibson said he has also contacted Transport Scotland to raise the issue.