Double death prompts renewed drive for more safety measures on A7

Author: Ally McGilvrayPublished 40 minutes agoLast updated 11 minutes ago

There are renewed calls for more to be done to improve safety on the A7. It follows a series of fatal crashes on the road - between Edinburgh and the Borders - over the past year. Two men died in the latest crash[1] near Heriot on Sunday.

Scottish Borders Council is responsible for maintaining the road between Galashiels and the region's boundary with Midlothian. Local authority leader Euan Jardine told Greatest Hits Radio[2]: "I think there should be speed cameras there. If you travel to Jedburgh, or through St Boswells (on the A68), there are quite a few speed cameras within close proximity to each other.

"And if that slows (drivers down), it deters, and saves lives, then I think that's the number one thing." The councillor, who represents Galashiels and District, also suggested painting chevrons on the road, and encouraging motorists to stay at least two apart could also help. "The other week there, I was going to the airport, and we decided to take the A68 because we felt it's safer," he said. "It's not as windy, there's less opportunities for people overtaking, and people when they are overtaking on these roads are taking risks, so the A7 really needs a lot of work done.

"On the road down to Dumfries they have chevrons where you have to stick two behind the vehicle in front, and that's because there had been a lot of accidents. "We're not talking about reinventing the wheel, but let's look at different measures. It's not just about the cost, we're talking about safety here so we need to do what we can that's appropriate."

Stow was recently chosen as one of four communities in the Scottish Borders to trial a new community speedwatch initiative, led by Police Scotland. It's understood locals will be trained in how to use a speed gun and then warning letters are sent to any drivers found to be breaking the limit. Councillor Jardine added: "I think we need to start pushing this forward at all levels of government and asking: 'What more can we do?'"

It comes as the public is being asked for its views on how to improve the A7 in Selkirk. BEAR Scotland, which is responsible for the road south of Galashiels, is looking at ways to make it safer following what's being described as a number of "injury incidents involving pedestrians". Talks of a bypass have been ongoing for years as a means of providing an alternative route for larger vehicles which can find it difficult to negotiate two sharp bends in the middle of the town.

A drop-in event is being held in the Victoria Halls tonight (Thursday, November 2nd), between 5pm and 7.30pm. Anyone who isn't able to attend is invited to contribute via an online consultation survey which is open until December 11th. Anyone unable to access this can contact BEAR Scotland at [email protected] or 01738 448600 for assistance.

Copies of the survey forms will also be distributed to key locations in the town. Mark Turner, Design Manager for the South East Unit, explains: "We monitor road safety across the trunk road network. Over the past few years there have been some injury incidents involving pedestrians on the A7 in Selkirk.

Whilst there doesn't seem to be a specific pattern to the incidents, we're keen to investigate potential ways to enhance safety for people in Selkirk town centre on foot, as well as encouraging more journeys to be made sustainably. "Key to this is listening to the experiences of those who use Selkirk daily to shop, visit, go to school and work. This consultation will run until early December and we're committed to keeping the community updated on findings and any future plans that may result from it.

"While we are only responsible for the A7 in Selkirk, we are liaising closely with Scottish Borders Council to ensure they are aware of all the findings from the consultation process." Do you have a view on the A7 you would like to share on the radio? Email our reporter: [email protected]

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Greatest Hits Radio app.[8]

References

1. ^ latest crash (planetradio.co.uk)
2. ^ Greatest Hits Radio (ghr.listennow.link)
3. ^ 'Half a million pound' cannabis farm unearthed following police raid on former nightclub in Galashiels (planetradio.co.uk)
4. ^ Hawick rugby club pays tribute to player following fatal crash (planetradio.co.uk)
5. ^ Woman diagnosed with MND faces losing 'life-saving dog' after it left 52-year-old with 'pretty nasty injury' (planetradio.co.uk)
6. ^ Man caught firing gun near busy road in Galashiels is jailed (planetradio.co.uk)
7. ^ Court hears Selkirk man, 55, invited girl, 13, to his home for sex (planetradio.co.uk)
8. ^ Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Greatest Hits Radio app. (ghr.listennow.link)