CAMPBELTOWN’S Ralston Road is set to see new bus shelters by the end of September, a council official has pledged.
The news was revealed during a council meeting where other matters relating to the road were discussed by local councillors.
Concerns were also expressed about the timescale for Argyll and Bute Council to source its own road marking machine, which another official expects to be with the authority late this year.
The discussion took place at a meeting of the council’s Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area committee on Wednesday, September 4.
Councillor Tommy MacPherson (Independent, South Kintyre) said: “We have yet to see the determination of Ralston Road. We have no ground markings and no standardised blue signs.
“The community and visitors do not understand whether it is a path or a dual carriageway. When can we see the completion of the cycleway there?”
Councillor John Armour (SNP, South Kintyre) said: “I have been told this morning that the bollards for the active travel path at Ralston Road are there, but they need a traffic regulation order. I am asking for that to be done as soon as possible.”
Later in the meeting Colin Young, the council’s strategic transportation delivery officer, said: “I have been in contact with colleagues in roads and infrastructure services about this.
“It has been confirmed that the bus shelters should be installed during the week commencing Monday, September 23. I am awaiting an update on the determination order required.”
Meanwhile, Councillor MacPherson also raised the issue of the time it had taken to secure the road marking machine.
Jim Smith, the council’s head of roads and amenity services, said: “The road marking machine is something we have procured through specialist suppliers. We expected to get it in the autumn but it looks like it will be nearer Christmas.”
Councillor MacPherson responded: “There is a cost implication in that we have had £155,000 allocated, and in the interim we are hiring sub-contractors to line as determined by priority areas of Argyll and Bute.
“I think we are being slow here, and there needs to be an explanation as to why we did not buy the machine at the earliest opportunity.”
Mr Smith said: “We are pricing it as quickly as we possibly can. Road marking machines are not readily available, so we had to procure for our own requirements.
“It is not an off the shelf piece of kit. We would all like to have seen it go faster, but we are stuck with the timelines of suppliers.
“It is very unlikely that one machine will carry out all the works of Argyll and Bute. There will be times when we need to bring in contractors.”
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