'Rat running' car survey gets into gear

A SURVEY is to take place to identify how much of a problem "rat running" is in a series of Craiglockhart streets.

Local councillor Gordon Buchan has raised concerns about the problem of speeding cars travelling from Craiglockhart Avenue to Colinton Road via streets to the west of Craiglockhart Avenue.

The council said that traffic calming measures were introduced in the 1990s and that there was only one collision on the streets in the latest statistics, which cover a five-year period.

It also indicated that a seven-day survey outside 42 Craiglockhart Park showed the average speed was 25.4mph and that an average of 547 vehicles passed northwards and 789 south.

Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, the city's transport leader, said: "I have asked council officers to conduct additional local surveys in order to provide evidence of the extent of the problem and will make arrangements to present the information to ward members and local residents where available.

"Subsequently, council officers from the Neighbourhood Partnership will support local members and residents in developing options to address problems.

"The appropriate prioritisation criteria will be applied in consideration of any funding requirement which emerges."