Jean O’Toole wrote to us on our Facebook page on Monday 25th June 2018 [you can follow the post if you click here]:
‘My family & I live on Wardlaw Drive/Church Street.
I would like to know if any of the community here in Glencaple think we require a 20mph max speed limit in the village & especially the school road?
Our wee dog was killed on the road here on Saturday. I’m not blaming the driver, I blame myself for not securing the garden to the correct standard. However, I do strongly propose a lower speed limit.
There are no pavements for several metres along Church Street, this and the fact there is a school on the same street concerns me with regards to the 30mph limit. This is too fast to stop in time if a child should suddenly run on to the road.
I would be happy to pay toward the sign, I’m sure other parents in the village will feel the same. We have excess of 14 children now independently walking, cycling or on scooters each day around this wee village.
I am about to call the council regarding this serious matter. Thanks for reading. Lets make Glencaple safer for our young community members.
Regards, Jean’
There has been tremendous support from the community for a 20mph limit, shown by the comments on the post, including a call for the limit to be extended beyond the school boundary in all directions, and with some hoping for a village-wide limit. It has however, been acknowledged that parents at the school have unsuccessfully broached [an] attempt[s] with the council to lower the speed limit before…
With the lack of pavements in the village as a whole, there has also been a plea to locals, “Please don’t park on them! We have kids heading to the park to play, Mum’s with prams and residents in wheelchairs and there are times cars take up the whole pavement forcing pedestrians into the road. We have a lovely village, let’s make it a safe village too.”
And other requests for people to voluntarily slow down – especially on the Quay Hill (and) around dog walkers.
Jean’s husband, Nicky is working on an online petition which we will share as soon as it’s finalised.
**Edit** – Here it is!
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/20mph-zone-glencaple-village-1
This will be a great way to show your support for the cause, so look out for your chance to have your say. Jean will also distribute paper copies to the local community who may not have internet access, The Boathouse and The Nith Hotel. She is keen for the farming community to comment too and will be in touch with the local newspaper. Caerlaverock Estate have offered their help and support too.
**Please share the petition link with everyone you think might miss this online post.
Jean has also been in touch with Joan McAlpine, SNP MSP for the South of Scotland and will be meeting her in mid-July when Joan is back in the region. She will let us know time and place when it’s confirmed so that others can be there to ask questions, have their say and lend their support.
Watch this space!
David Gilbert, chair of the CCA is also very happy to support this. He feels that the speed limit around the school is particularly important and that it needs to be raised before we meet again in August. He will start his enquiries straight away and asks that if anyone has anything to update, you can email him direct at davidgilbert56@gmail.com
Rona and John Carson of Kelton Bank, who campaigned for reduced speed at the bad bend there, have offered to assist and advise on the way they took their campaign forward. Rona asserted, “We will be fighting on [for a reduced speed limit] and as a community we CAN do something to make those that should listen to all of our concerns, listen more carefully and ACT on it.”
In response to it all, Jean stated that, “The support has been overwhelming but unsurprising I guess really as we all want a safer village. Thank you. I’m sure we can make this happen”.
Do you have any thoughts that could be of benefit, useful and persuasive? Information about what may have worked, or not, in the past? An opposing opinion that you’d like to share? Do get in touch if you can offer practical help in any way, or if you have creative ideas that could help with a multi-pronged approach?
Lets get this ball rolling – your opinions matter!
Please get in touch with either Jean or Nicky, with David Gilbert (above), or email us at caerlaverockcommunity@gmail.com or through our Facebook Page.