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clc wrote: ↑Sun Nov 28, 2021 21:46
I don’t disagree. However, it doesn’t change the fact that Boris made a promise that is not in his gift to deliver on. If the Scottish Government decides to stand its ground then there’s nothing he can do about it.
Well the main reason it has low passenger numbers is that the ferries no longer leave from Stranraer but use Cairnryan which doesnt have a rail link.
What happened to Stranraer after the ferries left?
By Giancarlo Rinaldi
South Scotland reporter, BBC Scotland news website
Published 21 November
Stena Line moved its operations the few miles from Stranraer to Cairnryan in November 2011
You know I rather like Stranraer but it never seemed to have much character and I usually end up in Portpatrick.
The big problem for the rail service is the station is stuck out at the end of the pier 1/2 mile from the town centre. There was money allocated for a new transport hub which was supposedly ringfenced but that fence turned out to permeable and the money was used for something else.
There is no bus from station to town and only a small rather unsafe parking area so arrive there on a wet day with all the taxis in use and its not a nice walk especially if you have luggage. Start here - note the nice ramp for wheelchairs. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.90860 ... 8192?hl=en
What happened to Stranraer after the ferries left?
By Giancarlo Rinaldi
South Scotland reporter, BBC Scotland news website
Published 21 November
Stena Line moved its operations the few miles from Stranraer to Cairnryan in November 2011
You know I rather like Stranraer but it never seemed to have much character and I usually end up in Portpatrick.
The big problem for the rail service is the station is stuck out at the end of the pier 1/2 mile from the town centre. There was money allocated for a new transport hub which was supposedly ringfenced but that fence turned out to permeable and the money was used for something else.
There is no bus from station to town and only a small rather unsafe parking area so arrive there on a wet day with all the taxis in use and its not a nice walk especially if you have luggage. Start here - note the nice ramp for wheelchairs. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.90860 ... 8192?hl=en
There was a Stranraer Town station, but this closed to passengers in 1966, and the lines to it have now all been lifted, but it would be much more convenient for local residents now the ferries have gone.
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Hopefully one day there will be further development in the area - the station and its surrounds are very sorry - I did end up getting soaked once there on the walk down that road in the dark!
KeithW wrote: ↑Sun Nov 28, 2021 20:09
As I recall the A77 Maybole bypass is due to open this year. That will make a big difference , if they bypass Girvan, Craigiemains and Ballantrae then its pretty much job done. AADF south of Maybole is around 8k and a bypass of the rest is more about safety and the environment than congestion except for Girvan which is a pain and must be worse for the people who live there. https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@55.24409 ... 8192?hl=en
Yes, the last time I was down by the bypass the signs are still up saying Opening Summer 2021!
I have heard two stories - one says open before Christmas, other in new year.
Chris Bertram wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 17:03
There was a Stranraer Town station, but this closed to passengers in 1966, and the lines to it have now all been lifted, but it would be much more convenient for local residents now the ferries have gone.
The site's still undeveloped as far as I can tell from Streetview but it's not all that much closer to the town centre.
OpenStreetMap appears to already have been updated and is showing the anomalous B77 number along the old A77 through the town. The number looks more "official" now.
Nathan_A_RF wrote: ↑Tue Feb 22, 2022 20:33
Is the B77 number an error or actually official? B-roads in Great Britain are restricted to minimum 3 digits, no?
It could be both - officials do make mistakes, like the B38.
KeithW wrote: ↑Wed Feb 23, 2022 00:40They could of course choose to number it the C37
Seriously I know B roads have 3 or more numbers but is there anything that mandates this or is it just custom and practice ?
I'm sure it's not a law, but it's a convention that has survived for 100 years and the only other known violation was overcome.
Not sure if road numbering in Scotland is a devolved competency, maybe worth raising with Transport Scotland. It really should just be the B742.
Transport is a devolved matter, so road numbering in Scotland is entirely within the control of the Scottish Government. That said, they haven't actually made any changes to road numbering policy since devolution, so in practice they remain bound by the same rules as England and Wales.
I'd say it's worth at least an enquiry to Transport Scotland.
I’ve driven the new bypass a few times now. What a joy it is not having to go through Maybole. There’s more guaranteed overtaking southbound than there is northbound. However, there’s also opportunistic overtaking northbound on one of the 2+1 sections which will be useful when the temporary 40mph speed limit is removed.
In terms of future projects my immediate priorities would be two schemes which were previously in Transport Scotland’s programme:-
Dowhill to Chapeldonan WS2+1
Ardwell to Slockenray WS2+1
After that, I’d like to see a realignment and climbing lane between Ballantrae and Auchencrosh. This intervention is specifically mentioned in STPR2.
Bigger projects such as dualling and grade separation around Ayr don’t seem likely to be considered until after A9 dualling is complete so I’m not expecting much progress with that.
It may be helpful if I firstly clarify that there is no reason that a two digit B-road classification cannot be
used in Scotland. Responsibility of assignation of road numbers to side roads is a matter for the
relevant road authority, in this case Ayrshire Road Alliance, not Transport Scotland.
An outline design for road signs was discussed with Ayrshire Road Alliance during project
development, which included an assumption that the de-trunked A77 would be renumbered as “B77”.
Subsequently, following award of the contract to design and construct the works, a further consultation
was undertaken with Ayrshire Roads Alliance by Wills Bros Civil Engineering Ltd in respect of the
detailed design of road signs, which also included reference to the de-trunked A77 as “B77”. Our
records do not indicate that Ayrshire Roads Alliance made any comment in response to either
consultation in respect of this assumption, which was taken as confirmation that this renumbering
should be adopted.
swissferry wrote: ↑Mon Apr 04, 2022 19:25
I am awaiting reply from Ayrshire Roads Alliance.
Four month later...
...received these two replies today:
Apologies for the delay in responding to your enquiry.
It should be noted that road signage is a devolved matter, and there is nothing to prevent a B-class road being given a two digit classification in Scotland. This matter has been reviewed by both the Ayrshire Roads Alliance and Transport Scotland, and neither organisation has found any issue with the chosen numbering of the B77.
We will monitor our corporate enquiries system for any complaints in relation to driver confusion with respect to numbering – if this is found to be an issue then we will revisit the matter.
We trust this helps to clarify in relation to your enquiry.
I refer to your email regarding the de-trunked section of the A77 through Maybole South Ayrshire.
Ayrshire Roads Alliance discussed the classification numbering with Transport Scotland who had no issues with the de-trunked section classified as the B77.
Ayrshire Roads Alliance have no plans to amend the number classification.
Regards
Kevin Braidwood
Head of Roads - Ayrshire Roads Alliance
Original post to Ayrshire Road Alliance
Dear Sir/Madam, On 18 March I had the pleasure of driving on the Maybole Bypass and appreciated the new road. I was surprised to see signs from either end of the bypass which refer to the route into Maybole as the B77. All other B roads in Scotland are 3 or 4 digits. The only two digit B roads in the British Isles are on the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and Northern Ireland. I contacted Transport Scotland about this. They informed me there is no reason that a two digit B-road classification cannot be used in Scotland however the responsibility of assigning road numbers to side roads was a matter for the relevant road authority, in this case Ayrshire Road Alliance. According to https://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/ind ... lly_Oak%29 a similar situation occurred in England where the non-standard number B38 was seemingly allocated to the former A38 in Selly Oak, Birmingham upon opening of the bypass in 2011. The road linked the A38 to itself. In December 2011, the Department for Transport confirmed they were aware of the abnormal numbering, as B roads are three or four digit numbers long, and were discussing the issue with Birmingham City Council. In early 2012, all the signs were patched with B384 patches. As this is the only two digit B road in Scotland do you plan to renumber it? It could be renumber B770 or B772 as these road numbers are not currently in use.
The non-standard number B38 was seemingly allocated to the former A38 in Selly Oak, Birmingham upon opening of the bypass in 2011. The road linked the A38 to itself, starting by Tesco then climbing Bristol Road under the Cross City Line to end at the Selly Oak Triangle.
In December 2011, the Department for Transport confirmed they were aware of the abnormal numbering, as B roads are three or four digit numbers long,
The A75 from Dumfries to Gretna was choked with traffic yesterday to the point I was driving at 10 mph between the end of the Collin by pass and the start of the Annan by pass due to a tractor and a huge volume of tourist traffic on both lanes. This is the unimproved section of the A75, with some sharp bends, houses and farms next to the carriageway. I would suggest dualling the entire road from the A76 to Gretna by pass and by passing the remaining settlements west of Dumfries. OK the A75 can be fairly quiet outside the school holidays and between ferry sailings, but it is a terrible road when busy.