Friday 29 March 2024
 5.9°C   SSE Gentle Breeze
Ocean Kinetics - The Engineering Experts

News / SIC must sort out traffic light woes, says convener

Council convener Malcolm Bell has dubbed Lerwick's traffic light problems an "embarrassment".

LERWICK’S malfunctioning traffic lights are an “embarrassment” and must be sorted out urgently, according to Shetland Islands Council convener Malcolm Bell.

His comments came as councillors agreed to delay the start of a consultation on introducing a 20mph speed limit in the town centre.

Bell said: “They are an embarrassment, to be honest, in the capital of our islands to have these covered lights all over the place. We absolutely have to sort this issue.”

Councillor George Smith pointed out that four of Lerwick’s 10 sets of traffic lights were not working on Tuesday morning.

“Why have we allowed this situation to persist without getting these pelican crossings fixed?” Smith asked. “And if they can’t be fixed, what are we doing about it? Is there enough in the budget to do what is required?”

Council roads maintenance manager Dave Coupe explained that each set of lights in the town is now so old that manufacturers are unable to supply some replacement parts.

One new set of lights is due to arrive in February, which Coupe said would replace the crossing at Bolts. But to replace all 10 would cost around £150,000 and he doesn’t have the budget to do that straight away.

Meanwhile members of the environment and transport committee voted 4-3 in favour of Robert Henderson’s amendment to postpone consulting on measures to slow down traffic in the centre of town.

Committee chairman Allan Wishart had wanted to press ahead and avoid being seen as “another dithering council”.

Officials had wanted to garner feedback on introducing a 20mph zone, and replacing some pelican crossings with zebra crossings.

That was prompted by a disproportionately high number of accidents – 19 in the past decade or so – that have occurred in the area since the turn of the century.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

 

Officials point out that tackling such an “accident hotspot” is one of the local authority’s legal duties.

Roads engineer Colin Gair said he felt the changes would be a “positive step to enhance the pedestrian environment”.

“If we can reduce vehicle speeds we are likely to reduce the number and severity of accidents,” he said.

But Henderson called for legal advice on what penalties the council may face if it was not seen to be dealing with the situation.

He wants more information on plans to examine the council’s approach to traffic calming throughout the town.

Henderson was also concerned at an estimated cost of between £100,000 and £150,000 to introduce the scheme.

“I have reservations about this when we’re counting our pennies,” he said. “It seems a lot for what we’re achieving.”

Become a supporter of Shetland News

Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.

Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.

Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has  over 600 supporters  who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.

Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -

  • Bring you the headlines as they happen;
  • Stay editorially independent;
  • Give a voice to the community;
  • Grow site traffic further;
  • Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.

If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.

 
Categories

Newsletters

Subscribe to a selection of different newsletters from Shetland News, varying from breaking news delivered on the minute, to a weekly round-up of the opinion posts. All delivered straight to your inbox.

Daily Briefing Newsletter Weekly Highlights Newsletter Opinion Newsletter Life in Shetland Newsletter

JavaScript Required

We're sorry, but Shetland News isn't fully functional without JavaScript enabled.
Head over to the help page for instructions on how to enable JavaScript on your browser.

Your Privacy

We use cookies on our site to improve your experience.
By using our service, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

Browser is out-of-date

Shetland News isn't fully functional with this version of .
Head over to the help page for instructions on updating your browser for more security, improved speed and the best overall experience on this site.

Interested in Notifications?

Get notifications from Shetland News for important and breaking news.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Become a supporter of Shetland News

We're committed to ensuring everyone has equitable access to impartial, open and quality local journalism that benefits all residents.

By supporting Shetland News, you play a vital role in ensuring we remain a pivotal resource in supporting the community.

Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.