Road Safety (Sheltered Housing)

Question Time — Scottish Executive — Enterprise, Lifelong Learning and Transport – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:00 pm on 8 September 2004.

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Photo of Brian Adam Brian Adam Scottish National Party 2:00, 8 September 2004

To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it issues to local authorities on road safety near sheltered housing complexes. (S2O-3066)

Photo of Nicol Stephen Nicol Stephen Liberal Democrat

No guidance has been issued specifically on road safety near sheltered housing. However, existing guidance includes advice on the needs of elderly and disabled road users.

Photo of Brian Adam Brian Adam Scottish National Party

I am aware—as the minister will be, given that he is a member for Aberdeen—that there are many sheltered housing complexes in the city and that the residents want safe road crossings. However, Aberdeen City Council appears to hide behind the current regulations on road crossings. Will the minister assure me that he will issue appropriate guidance that will allow the installation of crossings near sheltered housing where there is sufficient demand, not just a certain amount of road usage?

Photo of Nicol Stephen Nicol Stephen Liberal Democrat

If a local road is involved, those matters are for the local council. Given that local councils have significant discretion in this area, it would be unfair of them to pass responsibility to the Scottish Executive. However, I am willing to consider the issue and to find out the extent of the concerns throughout Scotland. If there is a particular issue in Aberdeen and if Brian Adam writes to me to draw the matter to my attention, I will follow it up to see what can be done.

Separate responsibilities for trunk roads rest with the Executive. There is a range of regulations, which I will not read out now, but if there were the need for a crossing near a sheltered housing complex, I would look on that matter sympathetically, if at all possible.