Residents concerns will see long term but no immediate action over roads issues
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Aberdeenshire's roads officer have responded to a petition raised by residents of Keithhall over the state of the roads and signage in and around the hamlet.
In February members of the Garioch area committee agreed to receive the document and sent it on to roads officers for a full report.
As well as urgent repairs, the petition also outlined a number of improvements which were being sought including adjustments to the timing of the St Mary’s traffic lights at the road end in Inverurie and alterations to the speed limits which are in place.
Concerns were also raised about flooding as well as the lack of a footpath, despite the route being popular with walkers.
A full report was presented to councillors at the latest meeting of the committee which is also now on the public record which dealt with matters raised, either dismissing them as not relevant such as provision of footway markings on the bridge or items which would go onto the current work schedule of repairs.
Roads officer Brian Strachan said: "The road is inspected every month, by example the large pothole will be repaired by May 28 and items come forward as they develop in the repair matrix.
"For example we don't do line repairs in the winter due to the weather conditions."
Commenting on the document and response councillor Lesley Berry said: "When you read this back its seems terse for want of a better word.
"It says that everything is going to get looked at and considered in accordance with policy.
"It does not give any real answers and nothing is indicated that it will be dealt with immediately
"Everything reported goes onto a priority list, but we are not giving people any real answers or hope that they are being listened to.
"Can we give people a timescale?
"We could be kinder and more realistic, it is my view this is fobbing them off without answers.
Fellow councilllor and new vice-chair of the committee Marion Ewanson countered: "I thought this was a reasonable response, there is a backlog and we have to explain that we are behind this year and they will start to see progress.
"For example cutting back verges fell behind last year and that's going to be a bigger one now.
"We are getting there but it is going to take time, officers have gone through every issue presented and given an answer to the petitioners."
Chairman Dominic Lonchay sided with this opinion: "There is no reason to take any further action as a satisfactory response has been made by the service."
The full response can be found at https://committees.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/committees.aspx?commid=6&meetid=19838as Item 10 on the agenda.
