A Paisley mother has made a desperate plea to the authorities to tackle a lethal road on her doorstep.
Yvonne Simpson is calling on Renfrewshire Council to implement traffic calming measures on Ferguslie Park Avenue after a number of near catastrophic misses.
Yvonne has launched a petition demanding problems with speeding be resolved, arguing her daughter Bobbi, who has mobility problems, has become a prisoner in her own home.
Yvonne said: “This plea is deeply personal and urgent. My daughter, who struggles with mobility problems, has on more than one occasion nearly been hit by speeding drivers.
“Ferguslie Park Avenue, our home, is not a race track and needs immediate remedial action. An alarming number of residents, many of them disabled, struggle daily to cross this road.
“We witness too often the devastating loss of pets, mostly cats, that get hit by fast-moving vehicles – a horrifying indication of what might happen to our vulnerable neighbours one day. This is a residential area, and excessive speed has no place here.”
Yvonne has called on fellow Buddies to back her campaign in the hope it will be brought before the council’s petitions committee.
She hopes the council will commit to carrying out a feasibility study into measures which would best tackle the problem. She believes speed bumps or mini roundabouts should be looked into as part of that work.
Yvonne added: “This is a forgotten part of Ferguslie Park Avenue. It’s a half-a-mile stretch and the cars just fly down it.
“Adding to the problem, there are no bus stops on this part of the road, forcing residents who rely on public transport to hazardously cross the avenue. This negligence significantly diminishes the quality of life for those who call Ferguslie Park Avenue home.”
Explaining many of the buses have been rerouted as a result of the Tannahill demolition works, Bobbi, 22, says she can’t walk to other locations to get the bus and is fearful of venturing outside.
She said: “I do look to see if there are any cars coming but you step out and then one comes from out of nowhere and you might be in the middle of the road. The cars are going so fast and no one wants to be stranded.
“I can remember years ago, a kid was knocked down there, they were luckily alright, but the next person might not be.”
Yvonne added: “Interestingly, research indicates that reducing speed limits in residential areas can reduce collisions by up to 42 per cent; that’s according to the World Health Organization.
“In light of these facts, we urge local authorities to step in and protect their constituents. Implement stricter speed limits, erect traffic calming measures, and establish appropriate bus stops to serve the resident population.
“We don’t want a tragedy to be the catalyst for change. Act now to preserve the safety of Ferguslie Park Avenue residents. Please sign our petition and join our effort to slow traffic down and protect our community.”
A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “We take road safety very seriously and we continue to review and monitor roads across Renfrewshire and implement measures as required in line with our road safety policy. We appreciate the community’s concern about speeding drivers.
“Following contact from a local resident we have committed to undertake a traffic survey along the full length of Ferguslie Park Avenue. A company has been commissioned to carry out the survey in the coming weeks.
“The survey will provide information on the speed and volume of traffic in the area, alongside an analysis of incidents and any concerns raised about the location.
“After the assessment, if a need for intervention is demonstrated, the location will be placed on the priority list for further attention based on its scoring.
“When concerns have been raised about speeding we work closely with Police Scotland to address them.”
If you wish to sign the petition, click here
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