Petition calls for action on ‘dangerous’ road between Bo’ness and Linlithgow

Auxiliary nurse Mellissa Cowie (34) from Champany, just north of Linlithgow, is concerned about the stretch of the A803 between Champany Inn and the M9, in particular the junction with the A904.

Concerned about further possible accidents on the 60mph road she decided to set up a petition at - http://chng.it/86LMbfZz -which has received more than 700 signatures in two weeks.

She said: “The Champany junction is really difficult to come out of as you can’t see what’s coming. And there is a dairy farm opposite with small moving vehicles coming out which makes things even more difficult.

“The road has been a problem for many years. In 2018 there was a massive accident where a lorry collided with a Mini Cooper, three people died. The local MP in Bo’ness campaigned about that road and was told there wasn’t’ enough reported incidents there. But something needs to be done.

“It isn’t very well signposted either. I heard about someone that nearly went down the wrong side of the road at the motorway. That’s the problem, there is so many unreported incidents, so the council think it’s ‘X’ amount but it’s probably double.

“Locals know it’s a bad spot. I would really like to see the speed limit lowered to 40mph and a speed camera put in to make drivers slow down and decrease the risk of driver error on the road.”

Mellisa believes that improvements on the road would save money as well as lives.

She said: “If you add up all the funding that went in to the accidents that have happened there in recent years, for ambulances, fire, police, clean up crews, road fixes, car uplifts , treatment in hospital – it will be a damn sight more than it would cost to put in speed calming measures.

“And of course, for parents of people that have died cost doesn’t matter, they would pay anything for this.

“My son is 11, in six years he will be driving and I can’t bear to think about him driving on that road.

“So something needs done about it. There has got to be some sort of voice to get them to address that road.

“Every single journey I make I have to go along that road and I see accidents weekly that are unreported.

“Massive accidents, small bumps. Sometimes it’s just a case of swapping details and not reporting it.

“It might be driver error sometimes, but there are things that can be put in place at that road that would reduce driver error. Speed cameras, traffic lights, they would be enough.”

A Falkirk Council spokesman said: “We work with Police Scotland to look at accident data to see if any road design safety issues need addressed. This work is carried across the whole area throughout the year where a picture can be built up of any particular issues that need action. Looking at the accident data for this location, we have not identified anything that needs attention.

“Traffic speed monitoring has also been carried out on the A904 and showed that the average speeds were well below the posted speed limits. In addition, checks were carried out on the road markings and signage for renewal and refreshing as required.”

Mellissa is also concerned about the slip road from the A803 onto the M9, which Transport Scotland manages.