THE speed limit for cars travelling through a small West Fife hamlet should be halved, and "everyone" knows it.

That's according to Councillor Graeme Downie, who says that even those driving within the 60mph limit are creating dangers for residents and visitors to Shiresmill.

It's hoped that new road markings – a big red warning painted on entry to the area on the B9037 – will help slow down motorists and reduce accidents, at least one of which was nearly fatal.

Cllr Downie, who represents West Fife and Coastal Villages, told the Press: "It's been an ongoing issue, I've raised it at the area committee meetings.

"There are a lot of issues of people speeding through and accidents where people have hit walls, there was a near-miss where a resident had been standing at his wall just a few minutes before a crash.

"I tried to get the council to lower the speed limit but they've agreed to put new markings in instead.

"They want to try this first before lowering the limit but, rather than wait too long, there is going to be a speed survey at the same time.

"Everyone in the area knows it should be slower, and people who go through it, it is a lot tighter there than it appears."

He continued: "The officers are doing the right thing, they need to follow the process.

"My understanding is there will be markings all over the road on entry reminding people to slow down.

"There is a junction which comes out and goes to Shiresmill Riding School – the issue is you can't see if someone is coming down the road, even if they are doing the speed limit.

"It is dangerous for people living there and for people visiting."

The Press reported in October that Cllr Downie had called for a lower limit but believed there wasn't evidence for issues on the road because incidents hadn't been reported to Fife Council.

At that time Martin Kingham, roads network service manager, responded: "In the past 15 years, there have been two collisions that resulted in injury on this stretch of road.

"We previously checked the potential for a speed limit change at Shiresmill but found it could not comply with national guidance.

"What we have done instead is commission ‘Gateway’ road markings to help encourage motorists to approach this small community with greater care.

"We always measure speeds on completion of such works to ensure they have been effective and will share this information with local councillors once the data is available."

Work to complete new road markings in Shiresmill will take place on the B9037 today (Thursday), with tomorrow also set aside in case of weather-related delays.