Issue - meetings

“We the undersigned petition the Council to give serious consideration to placing a weight restriction on Sclattie Park.”

In order to prevent dangerous heavy vehicles rat running down Kepplehills Drive and Sclattie Park.  Note that Sclattie Park has two sheltered homes Fairlyden and Cloverfield Grove on either side.

to request that officers carry out relevant transport survey’s in regards to Sclattie Park and Kepplehills Drive and to report to Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee in March 2016, with the results and any necessary actions.”

The Committee had before it the following petition which had been submitted by Mr Ian Grant –

‘We the undersigned petition the Council to give serious consideration to placing a weight restriction on Sclattie Park’.

In order to prevent dangerous heavy vehicles rat running down Kepplehills Drive and Sclattie Park.  Note that Sclattie Park has two sheltered homes Fairlyden and Cloverfield Grove on either side.

The Convener explained the process and invited the lead petitioner to present his case to the Committee.  Mr Grant was in attendance with Mr Rattray, local Community Councillor for Bucksburn and Newhills.

Mr Grant circulated a map of the area to Councillors for their reference.

Mr Grant spoke about the community’s concerns over Sclattie Park being used by heavy vehicles and the risk this was to vulnerable people in the area, particularly due to the two schools and the sheltered housing complexes.  The road itself had speed bumps installed but this has not eased the situation.  The volume of traffic has increased year on year with drivers using the road to avoid other heavy traffic hotspots and although the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) is seen as a solution to the issue that is still two - three years away.  Mr Grant also advised the Committee that buses were using the road as a terminus which was contributing to the heavy traffic flow and driver frustration.

Members then asked the petitioners a number of questions.  Mr Rattray advised that speeding in the area was an issue and local residents had challenged a number of drivers regarding their speed.  Mr Grant advised that Sclattie Park was steep in parts and in bad weather was prone to flooding and icy conditions.  The Convener then thanked both Mr Grant and Mr Rattray for their contribution.

The Roads Infrastructure Manager was then asked a number of questions by the Committee.  It was clarified that no surveys had been conducted in this area as there have been no recorded accidents on the road.  There is already a mandatory 20MPH limit on the road and cushion speed bumps but these are not affective for HGV’s.  The Roads Infrastructure Manager advised that a weight restriction would be hard to enforce as it requires police presence and a machine to weigh the vehicles and one is not located in the vicinity and any time restrictions for HGV’s put in place could impact the local businesses so this may not be a viable option.

The Committee resolved:-

to request that officers carry out relevant transport survey’s in regards to Sclattie Park and Kepplehills Drive and to report to Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee in March 2016, with the results and any necessary actions.