Appeal to reduce speed limit rejected

PUBLIC calls to have the speed limit cut on one of the busiest roads in Glenrothes have been rejected.

Residents of Pitteuchar, Stenton and Finglassie had asked for the restriction on the B921 to be reduced from 70mph to 50mph after complaining that latenight boy racers were using the stretch between Bankhead and Southfield as a drag strip.

A total of 133 residents signed a petition that was presented to town councillors, complaining that noise from “revved up engines” is keeping them awake at night.

However, local representatives were told there was no factual evidence on which to change the speed limit and rejected the appeal.

Finglassie resident Peter Ehmann, who made a five-minute presentation to councillors on behalf of local residents, said he felt he was fighting a losing battle.

“I was one man against all of Fife Council and I don’t think this has made any difference,” he said.

“Five minutes is not long enough to put the points across.”

Used by thousands of vehicles every day, the road’s 70mph limit remains in place — despite its location running through the heart of several large residential schemes.

Mr Ehmann told councillors that as well as deterring speeding drivers, reducing the limit on the dual carriageway would also reduce emissions and noise pollution.

However, while many local members expressed sympathy with Mr Ehmann, it was suggested that working with the local safety camera partnership may be the most effective way of putting the brakes on local boy racers.

The council’s lead professional for traffic management Ian B Smith had earlier told councillors that there were no safety grounds for reducing the limit, while noise concerns were also unfounded.

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