Jack McAulay, roads and transport manager at the local authority, has said traffic calming measures are not needed on Erskine View, despite repeated complaints from Old Kilpatrick Community Council.

Speaking at a recent meeting of the group, Mr McAulay said the 90 degree bend in the road forced drivers to slow down naturally, with average speeds in the area already around 20mph.

Mr McAulay told the meeting: “That route by its design is considerably safer than other roads that I need to put my time and efforts into, where there’s a greater risk of something happening. I understand your concerns and frustrations. I am not disputing what is being said here, but that road by its geography is such that it already is calmed, it doesn’t need any measures.

“The majority of drivers all drive at a nominal speed; that is not just the six times that I have gone there, it’s the same at the times when my officers visited. It is a perceived problem, with one or two people driving unacceptably but you will get that on every road.” But Mr McAulay suggested a 20 mile per hour speed limit could be implemented within five years as part of a wider programme of reducing speed in urban communities.

In the meantime Mr McAulay also suggested leaflets reiterating the current speed limit and responsible driving could be distributed to businesses and public agencies in the area in a bid to encourage more considerate driving.

Rhona Young, chairwoman of Old Kilpatrick Community Council, welcomed the leafleting but said more must to be done.

“It’s very sad if the council adopts a ‘we can’t do anything now, but if a child is hurt we will do something’ approach,” Mrs Young said. “The grass oval in the middle of Erskine View is where the kids play, it’s an ideal play area but it’s not safe.

“We will keep raising this, as we are more for accident prevention than repairing damage.”