Council chiefs have committed to fresh talks with the Crieff community over road safety on Broich Road.
Months of apparent inaction will come to an end as officials meet with local leaders to discuss the way ahead with a serious injury caused to a pedestrian in a road accident focusing minds on the issue..
The community has had concerns about the narrow road and its junctions for many years and have long called for change.
In addition, Broich Road is also the focus for a slew of development proposals, including supermarkets.
The local authority has now confirmed further meetings with the community will be held next month to discuss options for the road and its junctions with King Street and Burrell Street.
A spokeswoman said: “A meeting with local elected members took place recently to discuss the results of a traffic modelling survey undertaken to explore a number of potential options for the Broich Road area in Crieff.
“A further meeting is scheduled to take place in November. This is to allow more work to be undertaken on these options with a view to delivering an agreed solution for public consultation as soon as possible.”
SNP councillor Stewart Donaldson said despite delays, he had been unaware of “dragging of feet”.
“No one wants this issue to go on endlessly, and indeed it’s a saga that has gone for many years. All of us as ward councillors are aware of the issues involved and the crucial importance of road safety on Broich Road, both for pedestrians and road users.
“What matters is that as far as possible we get this right. It may be that there is no absolutely perfect solution, but we certainly want the most optimal outcome and one that factors in future retail and housing development on Broich Road.”
Former community council chairman Craig Finlay welcomed signs of progress but reiterated his request that change come swiftly.
He said: “Having campaigned on the Broich Road safety issue for the past four years, I’m pleased to learn Perth and Kinross Council seem willing to undertake public consultation once they have finalised a traffic modelling survey on the area.
“This will be, of course, the second traffic modelling survey of the same site PKC have commissioned in as many years, with the first survey disappearing from conversation without a trace, so, let’s hope this second survey results in some action.
“I assume that this traffic analysis will take into account the existing issues caused by narrow junctions and road widths, as well as the problems at Gallowhill.
“Perth and Kinross Council know the road is dangerous. Finances should be allocated as soon as possible for remedies to all the safety issues.”
Though a further meeting will take place on November 7, there is as yet no time-scale for full public consultation.
