News

During the working week there has long been a severe parking problem in one stretch of Davidson Road which has meant that residents have often been unable to park near their houses, delivery vans either have to park a long way off or double park obstructing trafffic, and pedestrians have had to emerge from between park cars to cross the road. Over the last couple of weeks this problem seems to have gone away. Residents always put the problem down to the nearby garage doing car repairs as it had minimal car parking and staff and customers parked on the street (and on occasions cars were worked on in the street too) and it seems they have been proved right as the garage has moved. There is now one stretch of Davidson Road that is just that bit calmer and safer. The same company had another site further along the road backing onto the railway. Presumably this has been closed down too and that should remove the issue with cars emerging from a long, narrow alley onto the street, at least for the time being. If the premises are taken over the same problems may come back, of course.

It is somewhat ironic that at the same time this particular stretch of Davidson Road became safer, the council have proposed a 20mph limit for the whole Davidson Road which carries the potential of making it more dangerous. There is certainly an issue with speeding motorists at some times of day, though arguably not a major one and it is not clear how reducing the speed limit to 20mph will make any difference when they don't comply with the existing 30mph one. The major problem Davidson Road has is with congestion in peak hours and the lack of proper crossing places anywhere along the road, which is particularly a problem on the southern third of the road. A 20mph limit would seem likely to increase congestion at busy times and increase the frustration of drivers making them more dangerous. Davidson Road is a very long road for a 20mph limit. Pedestrians crossing the road will have to wait longer for cars to pass which is quite likely going to encourage them to take more chances. They are less likely to be hurt by slower moving cars but it would be better not to be hit at all. I am all for making the roads safer but I am unconvinced that this move will do that.