Drymen planters set to be removed after villagers object

Planters were installed on the roadway in Drymen Square as part of a road safety trial.

Planters installed in Drymen as part of a road safety trial are to be removed.

Last month, we told how a series or road safety measures being trialled in the heart of the village are to be removed after villagers there voted to end the trial.

In August last year, we told how residents there were given the chance to voice their opinions on the temporary measures. Changes had been made to the layout of the village square – including installing the planters on the roadway there.

The aim of the trial – initiated by Drymen Community Development Trust (DCDT) – was to give residents and traders an idea how the village’s road network would look if a series of safety measures were introduced – including a new road layout.

However, the changes were met with differing opinions across the community – with some branding the planters a hazard.

In December, the results of a survey, carried out by Drymen Community Council, on behalf of the Trust, showed that villagers had narrowly voted to end the trial and the decision was then made to bring it to a close.

In an update this week, DCDT confirmed plans to remove the planters by the end of the month.

In a social media post, they said: “The lining team has confirmed availability in mid-January to remove the lines put in as part of the road safety trial and to reinstate the previous layout.

“The work should be completed by the third week of January, and hopefully earlier if weather allows.”

Earlier this month, a spokesperson for DCDT told the Lennox: “Drymen Community Council undertook a survey of the local residents on behalf of the DCDT, in order to canvas opinion on the road safety trial. There were 460 responses and the results were 48.7 per cent to continue the trial and 51.3 per cent to remove the trial early.

“This was always intended to be a temporary trial to see whether a revised road layout would slow traffic in the village, provide a safe crossing point and be popular with the community.

“Given the results of the survey we are now organising to remove the temporary road layout and reinstate the previous layout.”

Back in August, we told how the trial was funded by the Road Safety Trust and approved by Stirling Council and overseen by independent consultants.

The trial was approved by the previous community council, before the recent community council elections.

It had been taking place for a number of months and had seen large planters placed on the road in the village square – narrowing the roadway there – with the initial plans dating back around two years.

The planters were placed there in June after Stirling Council had contractors reline the road for the new layout.