Traffic report call made to officials

Oct 15 2008 by Iain Pollock, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

TRANSPORT officials are to be asked to provide a full report on the “traffic chaos” that is hitting roads in the southern access to Dumfries.

The call for the report came from Nithsdale area councillors following complaints over traffic build-ups and stranded bus passengers heading to and from Dumfries Infirmary and the Crichton campus.

Councillors were told that warnings over possible chaos had been sounded two years ago before building work began on the new multi-million pound college at the campus.

Roads were now congested with lengthy traffic queues not only affecting the Crichton area but also the Craigs Road access to Georgetown.

And it was also claimed that many patients and visitors to the hospital were being left stranded because buses were packed to capacity by students.

Provost Jack Groom admitted that the situation was a disgrace and said the council should be calling on the Scottish Government for action on a southern by-pass or at the very least a link road.

But it was pointed out that councillors would first have to call for a report and consider this before any further move.