A rural Perthshire community will be handed speed guns to check on motorists racing through their village.
A team of volunteers in Meigle has secured council funding for a speed watch scheme, as they brace themselves for a predicted 25% increase in traffic when the new Cross Tay Link Road is built.
Any drivers caught by residents speeding through the area will be recorded and referred to police. Repeat offenders could face proseuction.
The community council has secured £2,350 from Perth and Kinross Council’s Community Investment Fund to pay for detection devises, high-visibility vests and signs.
Bob Ellis, chairman of the watchdog group, said: “This is very important for the area, particularly as we have been told to expect an increase in traffic of between 20% and 25% once the Cross Tay Link Road is in operation.
“That is a very concerning prospect for the village and we want to be prepared for it.”
He said: “We suspect that a lot of traffic is still moving through the village above the 30mph limit and the Community Speed Watch plan will help us gather evidence about that.”
Mr Ellis said the scheme will also extend to nearby Ardler, where similar concerns have been raised.
“We already have a team of about 10 or 12 volunteers who are ready to get out on the streets with their yellow vests on,” he said.
Concerns were first raised by east Perthshire residents about the impact of the new link road – connecting the A9 with the A93 and A94 north of Scone – in 2016.
The £113 million project is designed to take traffic out of Perth city centre, alleviated congestion and reducing worryingly high levels of air pollution.
While the scheme has been broadly welcomed, locals predicted it could create “rat runs” in villages like Meigle, Coupar Angus, Burrelton and Balbeggie that sit on the A94.
Last year, Perth and Kinross Council confirmed a package of road safety measures for Meigle after a plea from villagers.
Councillors approved the project on Wednesday as part of a £330,000 investment in local groups across the region.
A similar Community Speed Watch scheme will also be launched at Methven.
Community council chairman Kenneth Simpson said: “We feel that we will be helping by taking a bit of pressure off the police.”
Welcoming the latest round of Community Investment Fund pay-outs, council leader Murray Lyle said: “This is another great example of community empowerment in action.”
