Objections may prompt a lengthy public inquiry: Double yellow lines proposal in High Street remain unresolved

THE proposal for double yellow lines in Langholm High Street hangs in the balance and will be further delayed if it goes to a public inquiry.
The double yellow lines are proposed for outside Station Buildings at the southern end of the street and at the northern end towards the bend before the Langholm bridge.
The row over whether the Station Buildings proposal should go ahead has rumbled on for several years because of objections.
At the A7 Action Group meeting support was received from Ronnie Tait, Annandale and East councillor, and Langholm community council for the latest version of the proposed loading and waiting restrictions but seven objections had been received.
A meeting with the police has now taken place. As a result of the police’s support of the proposal, it has been submitted to Transport Scotland’s special projects team.
It is for this team to decide whether the objectors should be overridden, in which case the objectors could take matters to a public inquiry which would cause further delay.
Serious concerns have been expressed by the community councillors about northbound vehicles being forced onto the wrong side of the road by parked vehicles just short of the blind junction with the Langholm bridge.
A request was made that consideration should be given, in the meantime, to putting up a warning sign to alert southbound traffic to the possibility of meeting oncoming vehicles in the middle of the road.
Langholm community council members also voiced their frustrations that the trial 20mph limit zone was once again on hold while further traffic data investigation was carried out.
Speed indication signs were also on hold pending a review of national policy by Transport Scotland.
Langholm and Hawick community councils both wanted to have improved brown tourist signs.
It was explained that these would need to be funded by businesses and community groups.
Rachael Hamilton, chairwoman, asked whether Highways England and Transport Scotland could work together on improved signage off the M6.
A good meeting had been held last year with Humza Yousaf, the Scottish transport minister, about the 2015 action plan for the A7 and he had expressed willingness to attend one of the group’s meetings.
He had been replaced by Michael Matheson who had been written to with an update and meeting request but no response had been received.
It was agreed to send a follow-up letter requesting a meeting.
Members agreed that small projects could bring great benefits, for example, a small corner improvement could make a big difference to sight lines.