We were utterly dismayed by the EDC Twitter announcement on Wednesday this last week (24/3/21) regarding the 12 weeks of road works to install 'temporary' traffic lights, across from our home, at the Allander junction. The council has no intention of this being temporary - they are doing this on a permanent basis with NO consultation with the people affected.

We have been aware of EDC's plans to install permanent lights here since last summer and have been pleading with them via direct emails to Thomas Glen and indirectly via the councillors to engage in consultation with the residents who will be affected by these works. The proposal is being actioned with no evidence that it will make any real difference to driver experience. The council's report only highlighted 11am on a Saturday as a busy time coming out of the Allander and 15minutes or so at rush hour on weekdays. The venture will see ALL PARKING REMOVED directly opposite the junction and for 80metres to the south.

Firstly, as residents of the houses that will be most affected by these works, we were appalled that we were not communicated with in a more personal manner. At no time have we been notified of these plans, finding out only by chance. Leaving it to chance, once again, for us to see this week's Twitter announcement is at best careless and at worst underhand.

Learning that access to the front of our house will be removed in less than two weeks is extremely concerning and upsetting. I have spent the last weeks losing sleep over this matter – and this can be added to the months and months of worry we have already had to endure. We have repeatedly requested communication about this issue and received only very basic replies in return. We have not received any workable answers about where the residents on our street will park their cars. The 100+ year old lane to the rear of the properties was never meant to withstand delivery trucks or large vehicles. How do they propose they access our properties? As for cars, yes, some properties have space for one car at the rear but most do not! Modern families have 2 cars so where will the other one go? The answer will probably be Burnbrae Avenue - which is already at capacity of parked cars.

The impact of these works cannot be underestimated. This is NOT a simple case of some over-zealous Bearsden residents trying to keep the status quo for the sake of fighting the system, there are legitimate questions to be answered about the impact of the works. Nobody has come to see us and spoken to us about the issues we face. As tax-paying residents who should have a voice anything we say is falling on deaf ears.

Here are our concerns:
- standing traffic will increase the air pollution for us

- loss of privacy with standing traffic outside our houses

- journey delays 

- loss of parking
- accessibility to our own properties at peak times
- house values decreasing

Worst of all, our neighbours have a child with mobility issues. She requires access to the front of her property. How does the council propose her needs are met? They have not even bothered to take this into account. Please see the article about this young lady which was printed in the Milngavie and Bearsden Herald a few weeks ago. If this doesn’t motivate you to sign, then nothing will. 

https://www.milngavieherald.co.uk/news/environment/bearsden-familys-despair-over-traffic-lights-plan-at-allander-junction-3150493?fbclid=IwAR2llw_or-CI9pOBbQI1hCeFAN2sJMKPYGRSK7I_aVOVpCMRLUplyTovaTk