LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

There is an interesting public consultation going on in Coylton right now.

A couple of weeks ago an advertisement appeared in the local press with the dramatic statement -`An accident waiting to happen! How Long? Scottish Executive 2006`. The quote was from the public local enquiry into the finalised local plan and referred to the traffic situation on the A70 past Coylton Primary School.
A public information advert? No it turned out to be an advertisement for a public exhibition last Thursday night spelling out details of three potential housing developments in the village.
Tied to these developments getting the go-ahead, villagers were told – would be a 65 space car park next to the school providing a safer dropping off area for kids; a system of traffic free footpaths and cycle ways through the village linking homes in Hillhead, Joppa North and South with the school and each other; and three pelican crossings with associated traffic lights, at the school, where the road from Dalrymple and Drongan joins the A 70 and at the dangerous corner of Manse Road.
The cost of these benefits - £400,000. Obviously something the cash strapped council can`t look at.
A very altruistic, community responsible plan - or a blatant inducement aimed at the planning department to help ease the planning process?.
There is a saying there is no such thing as a free lunch or as Virgil said, beware of Greeks bearing gifts. Hope Homes after all is in business to build houses and make money.
But again there is a traffic problem in Coylton. As well as speeding traffic there is congestion on the busy stretch of road morning and mid afternoon when parents anxious about their kids` safety, park along the road outside the school..
And there is a need for more housing in South Ayrshire, particularly low cost housing which Hope Homes say is included in their plans.
A dilemma for villagers. Already residents and parents at Manse Road are worried about more congestion there and some see traffic lights at the corner creating a more dangererous situation rather than a safe solution; and one home owner doesn`t want beeping traffic lights outside her house.
A lot of questions and concerns have still to be answered.
But it is early days. Obviously the company has done a good PR job coming in early with their consultation – and it is to be hoped they keep up this good relationship with the villagers throughout the planning process. What the new council will make of it is another matter. I understand that this type of pre-application process will become standard practice when the new planning procedure becomes law.

On the subject of traffic through Coylton and particularly speeding motorists. I happened to be travelling through on Saturday, as a passenger, when I pointed out to the driver (who shall be nameless) that he was going at 40mph through a 30mph stretch. `There aren`t any speed cameras` was his reply. A typical (male) response – so shouldn`t the police be pushing for a speed camera on this stretch? And as one Manse Road parent pointed out to me – Coylton Primary is the only one locally that doesn`t have speed bumps outside. That would certainly put the brakes on the speedsters.