A CONCERNED Rosyth resident has welcomed assurances from community cops that they are ready to crackdown on speeders in the town.

Frances Nicoll said she was pleased that officers would investigate her fears that drivers breaking the 30mph limit on one of Rosyth’s main roads could lead to a tragedy if no anti-speeding measures are put in place. She contacted the Press after what she described as an “almost inevitable catastrophe” recently on the road as a lorry drove through a red light at the pedestrian crossing just as a child took a step onto the road to cross.

Part of the 13-mile A985 trunk road stretching to Kincardine, the A985 is well used by heavy goods vehicles but she said, “I drive along that road every day and it is like a motorway; the volume of traffic has increased significantly, especially with HGVs and lorries and a lot of them drive over the speed limit.

“The lorry just ploughed through the red light without the slightest regard – what is it going to take before something is done? A child getting hurt? Being a parent myself, their safety is the main issue.

“I have had the same issues at the roundabout at the bottom of Castlandhill where lorries don’t stop. I have informed Police Scotland on several occasions but I have had a call from our community police, who told me they are carrying out an investigation into these issues. They will be paying very close attention and said that if they are made aware, they can be proactive.” Community policing commenced in Rosyth on 12th January and at an engagement meeting with residents of the town, Inspector Iain Flynn confirmed that catching speeding drivers was one of their priorities over the next two months.

Councillor Mike Shirkie attended the meeting and said, “Constables Ian Moffat and Ian McArthur are our new community officers who will be based in the town and the agreed priorities for the next two months were anti-social behaviour in the public park, Park Road, Lothian Way and Camdean and vehicles exceeding the speed limit at various points in the town.

“This is good news for Rosyth following the earlier discontinuance of local policing by the unified Police Scotland, which I believed was a wrong decision at the time. There will still be four panda patrol vehicles policing the general area and the police office in Crossroads Place will be re-opened.

“The two Ians also intend to foster relations with our youngsters and support any youth initiatives whenever possible and it is hoped that this initiative will prove successful and that residents will feel safer and more comfortable with the new policing arrangements.” The community officers plan to attend community council meetings and other group meetings such as Take a Pride in Rosyth and Rosyth Garden City as well as community engagement meetings, while a review of the community policing structure will take place in six months’ time.