No further safety improvements for Leadburn Junction

Monday December 19th 2016

Leadburn Inn

The Leadburn Inn is situated at the Leadburn Junction

A recent letter from Midlothian Council has revealed that no action will be taken to improve the safety of Leadburn Junction. This news come after a road accident claimed two lives in October.

In the letter, Kenneth Lawrie said: ‘Police Collision Investigators have established that weather/ road layout/ lane markings/ speed limit or engineering were not contributory factors in any way to this tragic incident. In this regard no further measures are proposed at Leadburn junction at the current time.’

Previously Scottish Conservatives MSPs and Councillors and Local MP for Tweeddale, David Mundell sent a letter to the Chief Executive of Midlothian Council calling to improve the safety of Leadburn Junction.

The joint letter was in response to continued calls from the public to improve the safety of the junction after fatalities, the most recent being in October this year.

Scottish Conservative Councillor candidate for Tweeddale East, Shona Haslam has started a petition to install a roundabout at the junction, in a matter of weeks it has almost 600 signatures.

In 2015 Transport Scotland revealed that there were 255 casualties in Midlothian alone. Audit Scotland found that in Midlothian the number of council-maintained roads in acceptable condition from 2011/12 to 2014/15 declined.

The issue of road safety and declining road conditions is not restricted to Midlothian. Transport Scotland found Scottish Borders roads claimed 295 casualties.

Audit Scotland revealed Scottish Borders council-maintained roads in acceptable condition from 2011/12 to 2014/15 witnessed the biggest decline. The report published earlier this year also ranked Scottish Borders council-maintained roads as 5th worst in Scotland.

South Scotland MSP Rachael Hamilton MSP said:

“I am dismayed by this news. The public is crying out for improved safety measures for Leadburn Junction and now we have found out there are no current improvements planned.

“Road safety is of the upmost importance. However recently the message has been that local authorities do not have enough funds to improve the safety of our roads.

“Of course I welcome the improvements proposed by the Midlothian Council to roads, but clearly there are still safety concerns when dangerous junctions, like Leadburn, are not in line to receive safety improvements.

“The success of Shona’s petition in such a short time highlights the importance the community places on seeing safety measures to the junction as a priority.”

Tweeddale MP David Mundell added:

“It is very disappointing news that Midlothian Council don’t have any plans to improve safety for motorists at Leadburn Junction.

“It has been one of the longest standing issues for me as a MP but Midlothian Council appear to be unwilling to work closely with the Borders Council in order to deliver real improvements.

“Those using the junction regularly are crying out for a roundabout as soon as possible and that is shown by the success of the petition so far.

“I will be continuing to work with colleagues to keep up the pressure on Midlothian Council.”

The petition can be found HERE.

Tweet Share on Facebook  
 

Subscribe to the Midlothian View newsletter




Support Midlothian View from as little as £1. It only takes a minute. Thank you.

Comments are closed.