More pressure is mounting on authorities to bring about key safety measures on the A92 in the north of Glenrothes.
Town councillors have unanimously supported a new call for Fife Council to commit to providing half the cost of a roundabout at the notorious Balfarg junction amid ongoing safety concerns about the route.
Transport Scotland is currently reviewing its response to an initial A92 action plan which outlined a number of areas where improvements could be made, although local campaigners – and clearly councillors – have been disappointed by the perceived lack of progress being made.
With that in mind, Glenrothes area committee members hope their latest stance may well break the impasse.
Councillor John Beare, who represents Glenrothes North, Leslie and Markinch, suggested that the committee should recommend to Fife Council that it includes up to £1.5 million in its capital plan towards the installation of a roundabout at Balfarg – a motion which received the committee’s full backing.
It will now be up to the full council to decide whether or not to include the investment in its capital plan, which is due to be rubber-stamped in February.
Mr Beare commented: “Since significant improvements were first mooted in 1996 and then abandoned in 1999, many attempts have been made to improve the A92 around Glenrothes.
“While we all acknowledge that there have been small scale improvements, the major issue of the junction at Balfarg remains.
“I hope that the recommendation of the area committee will in some way help break the logjam and bring that final piece of the jigsaw further up the agenda of those who have the power to make this junction safer.”
Transport Scotland, which set up a working group in February to consider the issues raised within the Fife A92 Action Plan, presented its response to the original action plan at two public meetings in the summer, although it was not well received by communities affected.
It is now looking again at its response, but some works have or are in the process of being progressed by BEAR Scotland on behalf of Transport Scotland.
That includes refreshing of white lining, a reduction in signing at Balfarg junction, the extension of the existing footway north to connect to the crossing at Balfarg, the design of a new crossing between Cadham and Balfarg, and a consultation on the reduction of the speed limit to 40mph from Balfarg to south of the Tullis Russell roundabout.
Nevertheless, a roundabout at the Balfarg junction is still high on local people’s wish list.
Fellow Glenrothes councillor Ross Vettraino hopes the committee’s move will also be seen as a step in the right direction.
He noted: “There is a long way to go in the campaign to improve the junction at Balfarg, but with goodwill all round and a bit of creative thinking, I hope that this proposal will bring us closer to a resolution.”
