The A92 through Glenrothes must not become Scotland’s Grenfell.
That is the warning campaigners have given First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as they continue their fight for safety improvements on the notorious accident blackspot.
Members of North Glenrothes Community Council claimed their pleas for action had been ignored for several years, despite a number of serious accidents.
In a letter to the First Minister, chairman Ron Page said: “I stated…our hope that the government would not be caught out in any ‘Grenfell Tower syndrome’, this A92 campaign having been known to your government for some years now.”
More than 70 people were killed when an inferno engulfed Grenfell Tower in London six months ago, despite repeated warnings to the UK Government that the building was unsafe.
Mr Page said community council members had unanimously instructed him to write to express their “ongoing and deep-seated concern”.
They claim a promise made by transport minister Humza Yousaf in March to visit the area had gone unfulfilled and the results of a Transport Scotland appraisal, due in the early autumn, have yet to materialise.
“We can but surmise that this community campaign is not a government priority,” said Mr Page.
The community council, along with Glenrothes Area Futures Group, has called for improvements at five main hazards on the route through Glenrothes.
These include the notorious Balfarg and Cadham junctions where they say the number of accidents is continuing to increase.
Mr Page said a number of new economic developments in Glenrothes, along with the pending completion of the V&A Museum in Dundee, has added further impetus to the case for immediate action.
In his letter, he said: “It would be most regrettable if yet another fatal or serious accident had to take place to provoke immediate Government action.
“Please ask your minister of transport to visit forthwith to see for himself and empower him to act.”
A spokesperson for Scottish Government transport agency, Transport Scotland, said they had been engaging with the community council and others on the A92 over the last year, listening to their concerns and outlining their road safety and maintenance plans.
“We have a number of studies ongoing at Freuchie, Balfarg and Cadham and reported the initial outcomes of these to the communities at our meeting with them in August,” they said.
“Further studies to identify short to long-term options are under way.
“We will liaise with Fife Council regarding potential options which may have the potential to change the way the local road operates.
“These next steps were discussed with the communities and we agreed to reconvene again in the new year and seek their views on any potential options.”
