A CONFUSING road layout in Ardrossan has been altered after intervention from a local councillor.

The wide-road on Princes Street outside Ardrossan Library used to have a separate lane for turning right towards the harbourside but this has not been the case for many years - but the size of the road left locals and visitors confused.

This meant that several times a day, cars would double up on a single road leaving a tight squeeze past for those travelling towards Montgomerie Street.

And after too many near misses, the Herald’s Paul Fisher contacted Ardrossan and Arran Councillor Tony Gurney to see what could be done about the issue.

Paul explained the issues and his worry that an accident could easily occur due to the lack of signage or markings on the road.

Just two weeks later, North Ayrshire Council’s roads team were out marking the road before chevrons and new road signage were painted on.

Paul said: “Sitting at my desk you can see the issues this road caused throughout the day and after a number of close calls I thought it was time that something was done. Tony was great and the time in which the council worked was great. I have yet to see anybody veer over the newly painted lines at all."

When asked whether these chevrons could stop an accident or save a life, Cllr Gurney said: “I think there’s no doubt about it. People try to overtake on a traffic light. I’ve been in the car when someone has overtaken me, they didn’t mean to, they just thought that’s what they did at those lights and it is incredibly scary and incredibly dangerous and it was only a matter of time before somebody had a very serious accident at those lights.”

Cllr Gurney added: “I think it stemmed from a change to the way the road was, it used to be two right-hand lanes and when it changed I think a lot of people didn’t notice the difference and it didn’t help that the lines weren’t very clear at all and had been rubbed off.

“It is really important that people get in contact with their local councillor, not just me but whoever it happens to be, we can’t know everything that goes on and as soon as it is brought to my attention it means that something can be done.

“I’m not saying that will always be the case but in this particular case it is very easy to do and very quick to do, so I would encourage anybody, whenever they see something that they think is a problem, let your councillor know."