Angus campaigners fighting for safety measures at a crossroads hope the council won’t be left with blood on its hands.
An engineering investigation was carried out at the junction of the A930 and B9128 in Muirdrum after local resident Alan Berg’s “video nasties” went viral.
The crossroads have been the site of many near misses over the years and concerns were raised by local residents of vehicles flying straight through without giving way.
However, the realignment work — which would cost £62,000 — was not considered “merited” by Angus Council given the low accident record and councillors on the communities committee approved the recommendation of a ‘do nothing’ option.
Mr Berg, who has lived in Muirdrum since 1987, has recorded many motorists on CCTV failing to stop and has been living in fear of a fatal accident.
He said he hoped the decision does not come back to haunt the council if there is a fatal accident.
“The junction still has drivers speeding across and not giving way — nothing has changed,” he said.
“I just hope that if there is an incident I’m not around to pick up the pieces.
“A simple stop sign wouldn’t cost the council that much and could save a life.”
Mr Berg’s footage of poor driving behaviour was posted onto various social media sites and reported in the press.
He posted footage of the terrifying moment a driver took a leap of faith and drove straight through the crossroads.
He shared other videos with The Courier, including that of a red van skidding sideways to the junction in wet weather — with the driver barely pausing his conversation on a mobile phone.
The crossroads at Muirdrum is approached from the north on the B9128 and from the south on the A930.
The junction sits on a section of the old A92; leading to the east into Muirdrum village and to the west into what is now a section of the A92 Arbroath to Dundee cycle route.
Councillor Brian Boyd said: “I don’t see how we can put a price on people’s lives.
“Yet again Carnoustie and District has been short-changed by the SNP.
“If it had been done properly 10 years ago when the A92 was dualled we wouldn’t have this dangerous worry now.
“Surely this money could be found?”
Council leader Iain Gaul said the roads budget has to be prioritised to keep vital rural routes open which was backed by fellow Kirriemuir councillor Ronnie Proctor who said some of his local communities are kept alive by a single route.
“We have to make difficult choices in hard financial times,” said Mr Gaul.
Ian Cochrane, head of technical and property services, said there have been no “recorded” injury accidents in the last three years at the junction and just one ‘recorded injury’ accident at the crossroads since the A92 was dualled 10 years ago.
He said: “On the basis of the accident statistics, no intervention at this junction is merited, which can be considered as the ‘do nothing’ option.”
Mr Cochrane said the concerns raised regarding road safety at the junction from the video footage were “understandable”.
He added: “In addition, there is no funding allocation for the realignment of the junction.”
