West Lothian councillors are demanding that a new housing development does not disrupt traffic in West Lothian.
It was announced recently that West Lothian Council had granted permission for the major redevelopment of Bangour Hospital site to create almost 1000 new homes.
However, local councillors have told The Courier that West Lothian’s roads are just not prepared for the impact that this will cause.
Local residents in Dechmont are said to be concerned at the volume of traffic that will be coming through their village.
And there is fears for the already burgeoning parking capacity at Bathgate and Uphall train stations.
Conservative councillor for Broxburn, Uphall and Winchburgh, Chris Horne, wants Dechmont residents to have a say.
He said: “The Council’s traffic experts admitted the surrounding stations for Bangour and key junctions nearby like Ecclesmachan Road/Main Street in Uphall are already at capacity, with no prospect of that changing.
“Winchburgh’s growth has already made this junction unbearable. It is very naïve to say that an increase in traffic will make little extra impact, or that walking and cycling are magic solutions.
“Who would want to walk, when it seems beyond the wit of the council to install pavement between Dobbies and Houston Riding School roundabouts?
“I am worried for Dechmont residents, who are nervous about traffic volumes and speed through the village.
“A few white lines at Dobbies roundabout won’t do much to sort congestion, and a trip through the village seems far easier to bypass jams. I already see too many drivers do this, creating misery for people on quiet side streets.
“Rightly the Dechmont community want a say in what traffic calming measures are installed – they and I agree that these should be agreed and installed before anyone moves into a new property at Bangour.
“It is a relief that detailed plans for each part of the Bangour development will come to the Development Management Committee. I expect to be speaking on traffic issues each time plans come forward, to protect the surrounding communities.
“We have a great opportunity to get a really good development at Bangour, but it can’t be at the cost of quality of life for their neighbours in Dechmont, Uphall and Bathgate.”
Conservative councillor for Bathgate, Charles Kennedy, says the council must mitigate and think about the residents of Bathgate in the redevelopment of Bangour.
He said: ““Surrounding communities need to be considered and protected. Many challenges lie ahead when we move onto the detailed applications but good to see the process moving forward.
“I am rather disappointed that West Lothian Council roads officers, while acknowledging that there are difficulties with transport particularly in Broxburn/Uphall and Bathgate, had no mitigation strategy to offer and this needs urgent attention from officers.
“Simply to leave it to residents of Bathgate to “understand” and accept on road parking in the vicinity of railway station is an unacceptable position and officers urgently need to get on with the parking review and seriously consider coming in line with the vast majority of councils and change the regulations to allow council engaged wardens to manage parking breaches.”
Both councillors voted in favour for planning permission in principle for the new development at Bangour but they insist that these traffic issues must be remedied before it can become viable.
West Lothian Council say they developers have committed to “traffic calming” measures.
A council spokesperson said: “Like most railway stations, car parking supply is under pressure at Uphall, Livingston North and Bathgate Stations.
“The requirement for additional car parking is not a condition of the planning application but the council will continue to work in partnership with Network Rail & Transport Scotland to maximise opportunities for rail travel as a sustainable transport option.
“The delivery of any major additional car parking is not a long term sustainable solution.
“However, it’s important to highlight that a condition of the Bangour application is for a transport strategy and this will focus on the provision of new public transport connections to the train stations and other services.
“The developer and council will develop these new services in consultation with communities moving forward as part of a Section 75 agreement.
“In terms traffic impacts through the village of Dechmont, the developer has committed to providing improved traffic calming through the village.”
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