§ Sir Hector MonroTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will identify the 10 accident area schemes on the A7; and when he hopes to begin improvement work on each scheme.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the nature and location of any accident improvement schemes authorised by him to be undertaken as part of the route action plan study of the A7 trunk route south of Hawick.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonNo accident improvement schemes have yet been authorised to be undertaken on the A7 trunk road south of Hawick. A first interim report has been submitted by Borders regional council to the managing group appointed to take forward a route action plan. The report puts forward proposals for accident remedial schemes at 10 locations.
The locations are:
- Goldielands
- North of Teviothead School
- Teviothead Picnic Site
- Eweslees
- Fiddleton Toll to Mosspeeble
- Ewes Church
- Wrae to North of Highmill Bridge
- Highmill Bridge
- Langholm Town Centre
- Middleholm to Auchenrivock
Some 27 accidents have occurred at these locations during the three-year study period and the report indicated that the implementation of accident prevention schemes could result in the accident rate at these locations being halved. The measures proposed include laying anti-skid surfacing and surface dressing, and providing additional traffic signs and road markings. My Department is presently examining the proposals in detail and hopes that it may prove possible to agree to implementation of the majority of these quickly.