Residents in a Perthshire neighbourhood have taken action to put the brakes on speeding drivers.
Handmade warning signs have appeared in the front gardens of homes in Blairgowrie’s Berrydale Road, urging motorists to slow down for “Children and Cats Crossing.”
And the hard-hitting display appears to be working.
Locals say this is just a temporary measure, and are calling for Perth and Kinross Council to install permanent safety features.
The campaign was started by resident Jackie Patterson who noticed her once peaceful residential area had developed a “Brands Hatch feel”.
The last straw came earlier this month, when the Patterson’s family cat Dannan was knocked down and killed in a rush-hour accident.
Jackie wrote to neighbours, asking them to consider placing a sign in their gardens.
“My husband and I decided to go to B&Q and get some wooden stakes and a laminator and make these signs for ourselves,” she said. “Once we put one up, we were approached by a neighbour who asked if he could have one. Then another.”
She said: “This is just a temporary measure, but we have agreed to keep them up until we know what the council plan to do.
“We have been told there will be a meeting about this soon.”
Mrs Patterson said there had been a rise in traffic going to and from nearby Blairgowrie Community Campus – home to two schools – and a major construction site next door.
“People are now using our street as a main road,” she said. “And I’ve been told it could get worse once they start building the next phase of new houses.”
Mrs Patterson said the signs had made a difference to driver behaviour. “Initially, people were seeing the signs and definitely slowing down.
“But we are worried they will just get used to them and start ignoring them, and that’s why we need something permanent.”
She said: “We had put up with this problem for so long and were complaining to each other about it.
“But when our cat died, that was the icing on the cake and we knew we had to do something quickly.”
The community is calling for 20mph limits, as well as speed ramps.
Local Conservative councillor Caroline Shiers said she shared the residents’ concerns.
“Perth and Kinross Council, and indeed all the political parties that make up the council, are supportive of measures to bring down speeds through physical improvements and signage, including vehicle-activated signs,” she said.
“We have raised this with Police Scotland and need their help with enforcement, but ultimately we need drivers to be aware of their speeds and, especially in residential areas, to bring their speeds down.”
