Haugh of Urr campaigners win fight for new sign urging motorists to slow down

A new sign will urge motorists to slow down in Haugh of Urr.

Campaigners The Haugh Hub convinced the council to install the vehicle-activated sign on the B784 which is regularly used as a diversion when the A75 is closed.

Now the organisation’s Tam Gaffney is looking to the Timber Transport Fund for a second sign.

A spokesman for the group said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive the news that Dumfries and Galloway Council are funding one of the signs and that Tam Gaffney is making significant progress to securing funding for the second sign.

“We appreciate that the council usually only provide a VAS on roads with reported speeding issues as well as collision history.

“However, with external funding from Transport Scotland they are installing vehicle-activated signs in the Stewartry.

“It is hoped that the signs will urge drivers to slow down and be more considerate when driving through our peaceful village which is used by walkers, cyclists and schoolchildren.”

The sign is set to be installed by the end of March, encouraging drivers entering from the eastern end of the village to slow down.

Galloway and West Dumfries MSP Finlay Carson said: “This is hugely welcome news and I am delighted the hard campaigning by villagers in Haugh of Urr has finally paid off.

“The village has suffered huge disruption on too many occasions when it is used as a diversion route, with vehicles failing to slow down when going through the Haugh.

“I hope these vehicle-activated signs will encourage more responsible driving and lead to less disruption for local residents.”