LEGAL HOLD ups could be about to further stall safety works at a black-spot junction.

Cash to improve the Hillend corner on the B9128 Forfar-Carnoustie road has been set aside for two years.

However with more delays over the acquisition of required land, councillors will be warned this week that if a deal is not done by the summer then the project will slide into next year.

The near £350,000 project is to involve the flattening out of an S-bend east of Kingsmuir at its junction with the road to Letham, but realignment requires cutting into land on the north side of the stretch which is in private ownership.

After delaying the scheme because of the acquisition issue last year, Angus infrastructure services director Eric Lowson will tell elected members tomorrow that the authority cannot wait indefinitely before spending the six- figure sum elsewhere.

“It has been confirmed by the solicitor acting on behalf of the beneficiaries that three firms of solicitors have an involvement in the disposal of the larger subjects of which the plot of ground to be acquired forms part,” states Mr Lowson’s report.

“In late March 2008, he advised that he was hopeful that the title issue could be determined within a month but the matter remains unresolved.

“It is understood that the principles involved in the transfer of the title to the ultimate beneficiaries have been more or less agreed but the mechanics of the title transfer are still subject to discussion among the parties involved.

“While council officers can and do make regular inquiries as to progress, resolution of the title matter lies beyond their influence.

“Conveyancing drafts have been prepared and forwarded to the agent who will act on behalf of the seller so that the transaction can be swiftly concluded then the question of title is settled.

“If the purchase of the land is passed into council ownership by summer 2008 then the junction improvement works will be carried out within the 2008/09 financial year.

“If the purchase is not concluded by summer 2008 then the head of roads will propose the reallocation of the current capital allocation and the junction improvements will be deferred until 2009/10.”

The 2007 decision to improve the junction was taken after councillors were presented with a “poor accident record,” highlighting around 15 accidents, a third resulting in injury, in a four-year spell.