Locals are questioning the worth of a new pedestrian crossing and traffic lights in the heart of Monifieth only days after a man was hit by a vehicle.
The signals at the T-junction of High Street and Reform Street have been in operation since the spring but have been branded as a waste of money.
They were installed as part of a £300,000 programme of improvement work on the busy thoroughfare. However, a number of residents say the lights are regularly ignored by people who continue to dart between heavy traffic.
Customers at The Vault bar on Reform Street claim changes made to the traffic management had made it more dangerous to pedestrians.
Bill Gibson, who lives in the area, said: “Nobody uses the crossing. It”s actually more dangerous now especially for old people, because they don”t realise that there is traffic about to fly round the corner from Reform Street.
“The council should tear it up and move the crossing back to where it was. But they are never going to do that.”
The view was echoed by Loraine Noble (66), who works at a charity shop overlooking the junction. She agreed that people generally do not use the crossing.
“The other problem is that the pavement has been widened and when a bus stops cars can”t get past,” said Mrs Noble.ConsultationIn 2009 Angus Council formally approved the project to enhance Monifieth and held a full public consultation to get feedback on the plans. The improvement works include new pedestrian crossings, a combination of soft and hard landscaping, tree planting and new street furniture.
Pavements have also been widened at points along the High Street to form landscaped seating areas.
The local authority said it agreed to carry out the work on the back of public consent, with a spokesman adding: “A public consultation exercise and survey was undertaken prior to work beginning and a high percentage of those people who completed the questionnaire survey wished to see an additional pedestrian crossing installed at the west end of the High Street, close to the High Street/Union Street junction.
“A new pedestrian crossing was installed in this location and we have had no reports of any accidents involving pedestrians using the new crossing.”
Questions about the crossing follow an accident last week. It is understood a man suffered leg injuries after he attempted to cross the High Street without the aid of pedestrian crossings nearby.
John Whellams, chairman of Monifieth Community Council, said it came as a complete surprise that there were people in the area who were opposed to the new lights.
He said: “I have not heard anything from the councillors this is news to me. The new plans went under full public consultation and no one raised any objections at that stage.”