An exasperated West Plean resident this week warned of the potential for a serious accident after a car hit the wall near his home for the fourth time in recent years.
Sandy Imrie had been out visiting a sick relative on Tuesday morning when he returned home around 9am to find that the dry stone dyke which divides West Plean Cottages from the road had again been reduced to rubble.
He first contacted the Observer in 2018 to highlight the dangers of motorists driving at speed as they approach the bend outside his home after a car hit the wall in January that year.
At that time Mr Imrie, who has lived at his address for six years, said there had been two previous occasions when cars had collided with the dyke and damaged the wall badly – January 2017 and December 2017.
Calling for a reduced speed limit, Mr Imrie said this week: “There is a real issue of cars driving too fast on this road – and this latest collison with the wall shows that.
“The road wasn’t designed for the amount of traffic that now uses it. Drivers come from the Bannockburn direction to go to Forth Valley Royal Hospital thinking it is a shortcut when it isn’t.
“It’s the fourth time I know of that the dyke has been damaged like this. It’s due to cars, driving north on the approach to the bend, and losing control.
“There have been numerous near misses. You often hear the sound of screeching tyres.
“Whoever did this must have quite a dent in their vehicle. What worries me is that there will be a time when it won’t only be walls or cars that are damaged, but people injured or worse.”
The speed limit on the road is currently the national speed limit of 60mph.
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Mr Imrie’s neighbour Alan Lochore has also previously spoken out about cars driving too fast as they approach the bend at West Plean Cottages.
Nearby Meadows Nursery had said it has petitioned to have the speed limit cut on the road since the nursery was established in the late 1990s, pointing out that the 30mph limit outside its premises is only advisory.
A Stirling Council spokesman said: “Exceeding speed limits is an offence and we would encourage residents to report these incidents to police.”
Inspector Peter Houston of Stirling road policing unit said: “We are committed to improving safety on the roads throughout Stirling and the Forth Valley. We continue to work closely with our partners on matters of road safety and will carry out enforcement action when needed.”
