The Merkinch Community Council held their latest meeting at the Community Centre on Wednesday 26th May.

Topics discussed included the new public notice board which has recently been erected in Grant Street - at the moment key holders are Diane MacLeod, Anne McCreadie and Del McClurg, and anyone with a poster or notice that they would like displayed is asked to contact one of them until a central key holder is established. The Community Council also held a public meeting on the 26th May to discuss the idea of a traffic calming system for the Thornbush Road area. All residents that are likely to be affected by the proposals were invited to the meeting.

The proposals set out for the new system are a series of traffic islands installed in the hope that it will aid pedestrians to cross this very busy thoroughfare, as well as acting as traffic calming scheme. During the meeting concern was raised about what would happen to Anderson Street if the calming system went ahead in the Thornbush Road area - it was noted that there is already a problem with cars using parts of Anderson Street as a Grand Prix - however, the outcome of the meeting was positive, although work will not be carried out immediately as there are still a few problems to be ironed out.

Angus McInnes of the Roads and Transport Department has confirmed that their department will be listening to what the residents of the area have to say before going ahead with the plan, "We are planning a consultation exercise at the end of the month. What we will be doing is actually knocking on people door’s and showing them the proposals for Thornbush Road, telling them how, if at all, they will be affected." And of the concerns raised by the residents concerning the Anderson Street area, Mr McInnes added "We’ve had requests over the years concerning Thornbush Road, so that has to be our priority, however, we are aware of the concerns raised by the community regarding Anderson Street and we are taking that on board. What we are intending next is to draw up a proposal for the Anderson Street area and go back to the Community Council with it."

If the consultation process goes as expected the Roads and Transport Department will start work on Thornbush Road at the end of July and it is hoped that the new system will be in place by August or September.