§ Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many accidents there were at the site of the roundabout at Beansburn outside Kilmarnock on the Kilmarnock-Glasgow road in the three years before the roundabout was built, and how many since it was built.
§ Mr. MaclayBetween 1st September, 1953, and 19th February, 1957, two accidents were reported at this junction: both involved collisions between vehicles without causing personal injury.
Since 20th February, 1957, when the roundabout was first used, eight accidents have been reported. One involved injuries to three persons and in the others vehicles were involved with no personal injuries. In four of these accidents icy conditions on the road were the main contributory factor.
§ Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much the roundabout at Beansburn outside Kilmarnock on the Kilmarnock—Glasgow road cost; and what is its purpose in view of the fact that the by-pass which joins the road is incomplete, useless as a by-pass and carries little traffic.
§ Mr. MaclayI have not yet received details of the final cost of the scheme from the highway authority, Kilmarnock Town Council, but the estimated cost on which grant of 75 per cent. was authorised was £16,791. This included the lighting of the roundabout and its immediate approaches.
The roundabout is the first stage of a scheme, included in the approved Kilmarnock Development Plan, for extending the Western Road southwards from its junction with Bonnyton Road, across the Irvine Road (A.71), to the Troon Road (A.759). The purpose of this scheme is to provide a road which will carry traffic from the Glasgow direction to Irvine and Troon, and thus ease congestion in the town centre.