Bearsden residents warn of 'accident waiting to happen'

Pleas are being made for safety measures to be put in place on Boclair Road, where a 30mph speed limit is currently in place.

However, data from tests conducted on the road between 2019-2023 showed that during one 24-hour period, more than 91% of cars travelling eastbound were clocked over 30mph.

One car was clocked at more than 100 mph and a further seven motorists travelled at speeds between 95-100mph.

Andrew McFarlan, who lives nearby, has accused the local authority of “turning a blind eye to routine speeding”.

Andrew McFarlan (Image: Gordon Terris)“It’s an accident waiting to happen,” the 36-year-old said.

"It is absolutely terrible the speed that the cars are going at. It's been an issue constantly. 

“It’s an area with lots of kids riding their bikes and walking to school. And yet, almost every car and HGV that careers through is over the limit, many way over the limit.

“Add to that a junction at Ardoch Road with really poor visibility, where emerging slowly is really dangerous. With cars travelling over 90mph, you’re a sitting duck."

Mark Stevenson, another local resident, raised concerns about the Ardoch Road junction.

The 44-year-old said: "When pulling out onto Boclair Road, I’ve lost count of the times I’ve nearly had a collision with cars travelling well over the speed limit.

"And as it now runs at the back of several new houses, something needs to be urgently done to combat drivers going in excess of the limit.

"Young children playing in those gardens are at serious risk if a car was to come off the road. It’s a tragedy just waiting to happen.”

The speed data was obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by Andrew earlier this year.

As part of this, East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) confirmed there was no action taken upon the findings, and no discussions were raised in the council chamber.

Andrew added: “We thought it was bad, but the results were even more terrifying than we thought.

"The council is spending taxpayers’ money conducting each test and analysing the results. You have to wonder what needs to happen for someone to take notice.”

Cathel McGlashan, who also lives nearby, said safety measures “must be put in place now” to reduce speeds before someone gets badly hurt.

He added: “The speed those vehicles travel at is terrifying. We hear them a lot from the house but we were shocked when we saw the data. Questions have to be asked as to why nothing has been done about it.”

In the latest speed test in September 2023, more than 86% of cars travelling eastbound were recorded as being over 30mph.

Nicky Taylor, a local cyclist and dad-of-two, revealed he wouldn't even consider going cycling with his kids on or near the road. 

He added: "Walking alongside Boclair Road with the kids can feel really dangerous, the cars and lorries are close to the curb and very rarely travelling under 30mph.

"And I wouldn’t even consider going on the bike with them here, which is a shame."

Ann Davie, chief executive of East Dunbartonshire Council, said: “The automatic traffic surveys mentioned within this FOI use the pressure of vehicles crossing pneumatic tubes, that have been laid across the relevant road.

“This provides an estimate of speed, direction and class. The data reported on individual vehicle speed can contain errors. Due to this, the average speed is reported as this is a more robust figure.

“We will continue to liaise with Police Scotland, share the results of traffic surveys with them, and assist as required.”

The average speed was recorded as 38.4mph at 7am, 36.1mph at 5pm, and 37.9mph at 10pm on Friday, September 8, 2023.

Meanwhile, the following day, the average speed at 7am was 41.6mph.

This dropped to 38mph at 5pm, and 36.2mph at 10pm.

Earlier this month, we reported that thousands of people demanded road safety improvements in the East Dunbartonshire town after a cyclist was sadly killed on March 18.

Residents held a silent vigil one week after Una Brandreth, 56, was struck by a lorry close to a nursery on Manse Road.

The tragedy was the third serious traffic accident in the area in little over a week which triggered calls for safety measures.

More than 2000 people signed a petition demanding the local authority to “take action and fully commit to making our streets and roads safer”.