A DECISION to extend a 30mph speed limit on the "dangerous" Grange Road has been taken by reluctant councillors.

The City of Dunfermline area committee had voted for closure - it's the scene of two deaths and more than 40 accidents in less than 10 years - in 2009 but were overruled.

Some councillors admitted they won't use the road linking Rosyth to Dunfermline but last week agreed that extending a lower speed limit was the right thing to do.

Dunfermline North councillor Jim Burke said, "I have previously spoken in favour of closing this road as I think it's a very dangerous road.

"A 30mph limit will make it a bit safer.

"But once we extend the limit we have got to enforce it as some drivers will just ignore it.

"This is a road I would not drive willingly." Dunfermline South councillor Tony Martin said, "I accept what Jim says, it is a dangerous road.

"The cost of upgrading it would be hugely expensive and encourage it to through traffic.

"I think this is the right way forward." And fellow Dunfermline South councillor Mike Rumney added, "We're damned if we do, damned if we don't.

"Short of closing it, this is the best way forward." Fife Council said they had £10,000 for a "number of low-cost enhancements" on the road, including the revised 30mph speed limit that will now cover the stretch between Grange Cottages and Easter Gellet Cottages.

The committee agreed to set aside two objections that said "drivers intent on speeding will always ignore the speed limit on Grange Road and will still drive dangerously, causing more accidents".

The objectors felt it was a waste of money, that the cash would be better spent on policing the existing speed limit and that 30mph was "too slow" and would prompt impatient drivers to make "dangerous overtaking manoeuvres".

Dr Bob McLellan, the council's head of transportation, said, "Moving the speed limit signage from its existing position to incorporate this extension is relatively inexpensive.

"The majority of the budget allocation will be used to implement the 40mph speed limit on Brankholm Brae and to improve signing and lining along the whole length of Grange Road and Brankholm Brae." He added, "Crash statistics are not at the required level to justify spending large amounts of money to treat Grange Road because it is a low-class road with a low traffic volume and does not feature as a priority for treatment when compared to other roads in Fife." Two years ago the committee voted to close the road after hearing the fatal crash rate on the route was more than eight times higher than the national average.

The South West Fife area committee, which covers Rosyth, disagreed and, after a debate, it remained open.