‘Temporary’ village lights approach three-year mark

WORKS to repair a damaged footpath and embankment near Rigg will be completed at the ‘earliest opportunity’, according to Dumfries and Galloway Council.

Temporary traffic lights just outside the village – on the bridge over the Kirtle Water – will have been in operation for three years by the end of next month.

Offering a recent update, a council spokesperson said: “The temporary traffic lights at Rigg on the B721 remain in place to ensure public safety while repairs to the damaged footpath and embankment are progressed.

“The works will begin at the earliest opportunity once the necessary legal processes have been completed with the relevant stakeholders.”

Previously Gretna and Rigg Community Council had approached MSPs, while numerous residents have raised complaints.

Graham Dalrymple often uses the road and has become fed up with the state of things.

He said: “This has gone on and on, I got a message from the council saying it’s in the interest of public safety.

“I’m down that way all the time. Everybody that I’ve spoken to moans about them as well.

“Nothing is getting done, and it doesn’t look like anything will be getting done in the future. “It’s absolutely ridiculous – three years and all that money. It’s a disgrace.”

Following a freedom of information request last March, the council refused to reveal the cost of the lights. They cited an exception and added in their response: “From a competitive perspective, the company providing the traffic management operates in a commercial environment and the release of this information would prove highly advantageous and beneficial to any competitor.”