Grange traffic calming consultation

We recently held a drop-in consultation on Friday 5th May in Grange and a short online version for those that couldn’t make it.

The purpose was to consult with residents of Grange about the sort of traffic calming measures that they would like to see. This consultation forms part of the Carse of Gowrie Group’s Errol Grange Shared Path project. 

This was the outcome:

Graph showing the result of Grange consutlation on traffic calming proposals

Speed cushions were the only measure that were on balance negative.   Discussion with participants indicated that they didn’t like the rubber speed cushions in Errol, and they had three further common negative issues: they don’t slow down large vehicles, and they can create noise with large vehicles (i.e. empty lorries), and they can create vibrations in homes if they are situated near those homes.

There were plenty of comments as well:

“ Can consideration be given to a gateway feature at either end of Grange – a feature that signals to drivers they are entering a residential area

“Speed camera (+7 ticks added)

“Spend money elsewhere

“Can consideration be given to the noise that some of the speed calming measures can create. Lots of people living along the road wouldn’t want more noise.

“Speed cushions are less effective for larger vehicles that can straddle them

“Speed camera

“I believe a combination of chicanes and speed humps would help to keep the traffic at a safe speed. I live in Grange and often see vehicles travelling well above the speed limit.

“Vehicle activation signs at both ends of the village – at the east end the start of the 20 zone probably needs extended a bit for the new houses under construction. Speed cushions soon after those (both ends) and maybe one extra on the straight towards Errol.

“How about just one instead of them all which is the mess we see in Errol.

“With a pavement and 40 mph limits is there actually a need for further measures as there is no evidence that there needs to be further restrictions or that the various temporary 20mph limits have reduced incidents.

“I note the fake police person is not an option which is actually very efficient.”

“Vehicle-activated signs as too many people are speeding. These include cars, vans and articulated vehicles.

“A walkable path is also needed as there is nothing meantime, this is causing significant danger to pedestrians due to drivers ignoring current speed restrictions.”

“Road narrowing

“Chicanes please

“Road narrowing and chicanes may be the most effective of the above options as trucks , buses and SUVs constantly go through Grange at double the speed limit and more. Speed bumps would likely have little effect. A speed camera at each end of village would make people slow down every single time they drove through the village. I am amazed there hasn’t been a serious accident in Grange given the very poor driving I witness everyday especially by buses, car transporters and HGVs and people overtaking others going through the village who actually do stick to the speed limit.

“I would recommend speed bumps

“Chicanes

“Chicane please

“Not speed humps or cushions as awful on a bike.  Road really can’t be narrowed any more as buses, tractors and lorries struggle already.

“Please don’t reduce the speed between grange and errol any more.”

“Chicanes would be our preference around the Errol boot sale entrance

“Speed hump + cushions generated more noise which is intrusive for residents who stay on the road through Grange.

Have a look at the short report where the complete results are given.

Bike event feedback

Just to say thanks to everyone who came to the bike event at Errol Village Hall on Sunday 4th Sept. Hope you all enjoyed it. Here are some pictures:

Dr Bike fixed up 16 bikes for folk – for free!
Roger pedals for a smoothie
The e-Cargobike proved popular with folk wanting a tryout
Path plans were on show to discuss with folk

Here’s what the path project did with the community in 2021

Despite Covid we managed to run two events during 2021. 

Setting off on a sunny day

In May we held a bike ride event in collaboration with Errol Primary School.  A large group of around 30 kids supervised by trained ride leaders (mainly school staff) cycled the proposed routes of the path but on the road because the path is yet to be built.

Along by the airfield. The proposed new path would be along the otherside of the fence in the field

We started from the School in Errol headed over to Grange, and then up to the Horn on the backroad before stopping at the Pickled Peacock café for a well-earned break of drinks and cake (which the Carse of Gowrie Group paid for as a thank you to the participants).  Finally we came back through Errol Station and back to the school. 

Well earned break at the Pickled Peacock

The sun shone and everyone seemed to have a good time. 

The School is a real example of how many kids can bike and walk to school, and that is a testament to both kids and the dedication of staff to make it happen.  Not all primary schools are as effective as Errol in getting kids engaged with this.  Thanks and well done. 

In November, we held a Saturday morning public consultation event in Errol Village Hall to show the proposed path designs to the community – and to hear what they thought and collect their comments.  People were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the path proposed – minimum 2.5m wide with a tarmac surface – so room for walking, wheeling and biking.  Again some fantastic complementary cakes were enjoyed by all to help the discussions along. 

Lots of interest in the path design plans

We are really pleased that at least 50 participants came and discussed the plans for the paths, and this shows a good level of interest from local people.  People had a chance to leave comments on post-its. There were one or two concerns which we have talked through but the overwhelming majority of people were very positive. 

Post-its were used for comments to be recorded

We also held two Steering Group meetings in 2021.  Steering Group members are interested local people who help direct the project.  If you are interested in coming to a meeting then please use the contact form to get in touch. 

Next phase of path development is awarded funding

Artist’s impression of the new path

Off the road walking and cycling links are getting a boost between the Carse villages of Errol, Errol Station and Grange.  We have been successful in securing funding for the next stage of development of the paths. 

The Group’s secretary Roger Humphry said “Roads in the Errol area are experiencing increasing levels of traffic, both cars and HGVs, and if local people including children are to feel save cycling and walking, then we need good quality off road paths.”

Chair Ron Gillies said “We’re really pleased to working positively with Perth and Kinross Council and local landowners to realise this project.  In the longer term we would like to extend the off the road path network across the Carse”.

Last year’s community consultation on the proposed paths showed overwhelming support for more and better links.  It also showed that the main barrier to cycling and walking was road safety, as people were afraid of fast moving vehicles on rural roads.  That perception of danger is borne out by Government statistics; cyclists on rural ‘A’ roads are twice as likely to be killed (per mile travelled) than cyclists on urban roads. 

The current situation is that there is not even a pavement between Errol and Grange, although they are only a mile and a half apart. Pedestrians in particular face an unpleasant and dangerous walk along the straight road joining the villages. They have to deal with fast vehicles and large puddles. 

Carse of Gowrie Group has been awarded £60,000 through Sustrans Scotland’s Places for Everyone programme, which is funded by Transport Scotland, to carry out concept design and route development for a traffic free path route.  

The Group are planning a cycle festival event to be held around Easter as part of the project.

Path Consultation Results

We had a great response from the community consultation in the Spring about the Errol Grange Shared Use path . We had nearly 140 replies!

The consultation shows that :

  • Support: overwhelming support for a new cycle path on this route
  • Barriers to cycling: clear concern and fear expressed about cycling on roads along this route
  • Type of path: strong request for new path to be away from the road though for many a shared use pavement would also be acceptable. significant potential for modal change from car & bus to bicycle
  • Type of surface: evidence that a high quality of surface for the path is required

A pdf of the report can be downloaded with the link below.

public-consultation-of-errol-grange-path-project-2019-v1aDownload

For more about this path project go to our Paths page

Errol-Grange Path project

Carse of Gowrie Group is keen to see a segregated foot/cycle path between Errol and Grange. Currently the only option is to use the fairly fast road.
We were funded in 2018/19 to run a feasibility project which is now complete and is encouraging. As part of the feasibility project which was conducted by Crispin Hayes Associates, we ran a public consulation which showed huge community support.
The report of this consultation is available on request (roger.w.humphry@gmail.com) and will be available as a pdf download when we’ve worked out how to provide that (if you can help we’d be very grateful).