A number of speed restrictions and traffic calming measures are being implemented in South Ayrshire to further improve road safety for drivers and pedestrians.

The Vice Convener of South Ayrshire Council's Economic and Tourism Development Committee, Councillor Eddie Bulik commented: "Members of the Committee have approved changes that will make a real difference to the lives of road users and residents.

"I am particularly pleased about the changes that are to be made in and around a number of schools. The safety of children going to and from school is very important, and any measures that make drivers more aware of their speed and encourages them to drive more carefully is a good thing.

"Officers of the Council have been developing and implementing a programme of works from School Travel Plans which meet the requirements of the South Ayrshire Local Transport Strategy. In addition Officers have been working on a range of plans to help improve road safety in various parts of South Ayrshire.

"Full statutory and public consultations were carried out for each of the proposals and no valid objections were received."

20mph speed limits and other traffic calming measures will be introduced as follows:

• Annbank and St Ann's Primary Schools - Combination of part-time electronic signing and permanent signing with traffic calming on side roads.
  
  
• Ayr Academy, Fort Street, Ayr - Part-time electronic signing.
  
  
• Barassie Primary School, Barassie - Permanent signing with traffic calming.
  
  
• Belmont Academy, Ayr - Combination of part-time electronic signing and permanent signing with traffic calming on side roads.
  
  
• Girvan Academy, Girvan - Part-time electronic signing.
  
  
• Ayr Grammar Primary School, Ayr - Combination of part-time electronic signing and permanent signing with traffic calming on side road.
  
  
• Monkton Primary School, Monkton - Permanent signing on various streets within Monkton with no traffic calming.
  
  
• St John's Primary School, Ayr - Part-time electronic signing.
  
  
• Tarbolton Primary School, Tarbolton - Permanent signing with traffic calming.
  
  
• Troon and St Patrick's Primary, Troon - Permanent signing with traffic calming.
  
  
• Whitletts Primary School, Ayr - Part-time electronic signing.

Funding for the implementation of these proposals is from the ring-fenced funding allocation for '20 mph around schools'. The 2005/6 allocation is £236,000 and is paid in arrears on the basis of actual expenditure.

A number of 20 mph speed restrictions are also being introduced in other parts of South Ayrshire at:

•  Bruce Avenue, Dundonald

•  Welltrees Street, Dunlop Terrace and Roderick Lawson Terrace, Maybole

•  Carnell Terrace/ Rowanbank Road area, and Ardfin Road/Carradale Drive area in Prestwick

Measures being taken to address traffic safety issues in other areas include:

•  A 40 mph speed restriction being placed on the A759 Troon to Kilmarnock Road, from a point approximately 50 metres west of the A759/Kilnford Drive Dundonald junction, to a point 310m east of the A759/B730 junction.

•  In Ayr, following ongoing consultations between residents, the Police, the local Councillor and the Council a limited waiting area is to be created on Prestwick Road, Ayr. A parking ban within the 'hammer head' area of Maryfield Place in Ayr will be introduced to alleviate the persistent problem of long term parking. These changes will be funded from the Council's existing Traffic Signing and Road Markings budgets.

October 2005