COUNCILLORS have agreed that the speed of traffic running through Benarty will be curtailed to 30mph.

Cowdenbeath Area Committee took the decision at their November meeting after hearing that the entrance to the new cycle facility would be in the vicinity of the village of South Glencraig.

The committee was unhappy that the transportation department had not been fully behind their motion passed in October which saw them back South Glencraig residents' appeal for action to be taken to reduce the speeding of traffic on the B920 linking Lochgelly and Benarty.

They wanted the 30mph limit to be in force from Lochgelly High School right up to the entrance to Crosshill.

Traffic Management Lead Professional, Phil Clarke, told the committee that it was felt that as there were no houses between South Glencraig and Crosshill it was generally contended that while the 30mph limit should cover the stretch involving the small village then go back to 40 up to the entrance to the three Benarty villages of Crosshill, Lochore and Ballingry.

Mr Clarke said that a survey of the stretch had indicated that most drivers had kept within the 40mph limit with a few going well beyond it and there had been 16 accidents over the past five years.

However, Councillor Linda Erskine said that she was a regular user of the road and experienced a lot of drivers exceeding 40mph while Councillor Alex Campbell commented: "When the new cycle track opens near South Glencraig there will be a lot of cyclists and pedestrians using the pavements on this stretch of road and I wonder if this has been taken into account.

Mr Clarke said it had not and that changed things and committee chairman Councillor Willie Clarke said: "There is also a lot of walkers use this stretch to walk to the Meadows country park."

The committee agreed that the 30mph limit run from Lochgelly High School through to Crosshill.