JOAN'S LEGACY: Our campaign secures speed cameras after fatal A77 crash

Average speed cameras are to be installed on a new section of the A77 road in Ayr after a West FM news campaign.

Our radio station launched 'Joan's Legacy' in March 2018, just over a year since a woman from Troon was killed by boy racers on the road.

Joan Price, 59, died following a head on crash near the Holmston Roundabout. The young drivers who caused it had been speeding at 140mph.

The campaign, supported by Joan's husband Colin, called for a gap in speed cameras on the A77 to be filled between the Whitletts, Holmston and Bankfield roundabouts in Ayr. It was hoped this would stop racing on the road and prevent further tragedy.

More than 2,000 local people backed our campaign by signing a petition which we presented to Transport Secretary Michael Matheson at Holyrood in November 2018.

Two years later, and after several surveys and knock-backs, Transport Scotland has now confirmed the road does meet the requirements for average speed cameras and agreed to install them.

Colin Price said, "As you can imagine, I was overjoyed and also a bit emotional. I'm so pleased for everyone involved in the campaign.

"I think there was common agreement that this was an extremely dangerous road. It was well known locally that boy racers would use this road to race each other at speeds in excess of 100mph. They knew there were no cameras there covering them.

"We called the campaign 'Joan's Legacy' and it is extremely apt. Joan was a loving, caring person. She always tried to help others so hopefully her legacy will ensure that nobody else is killed or seriously injured on this road.

"I think when the cameras are finally up and I see them for the first time I will have mixed emotions. I will be proud that I helped to get them there but it's still incredibly sad that we had to ask for them in the first place."

Transport Secretary grateful to West FM

Mr Matheson sent a letter to Colin with news of the decision. He said, "When I last met Mr Price, I promised that the safety of the A77 would be kept under review. The latest assessment by the West Safety Camera Unit indicates that the A77 between Whitletts, Holmston and Bankfield meets safety camera prioritisation requirements. The Unit recommends that average speed camera enforcement activity take place at this location and I support this position.

“There is nothing I can say or do which will stop the continued pain caused by the tragic loss of Joan Price in January 2017. I know that the recommendation made for safety cameras at this location won’t change this.

“What I can say is that I’m grateful to have met Mr Price and to have heard his story. Every life lost on Scotland’s roads is one too many and I’m also grateful to West FM for their part in telling the story of Joan Price and campaigning with Mr Price for better road safety in Ayrshire and beyond.”

There is a legacy now

Funding has already been set aside for the new speed cameras with the installation expected in early 2021.

South of Scotland MSP Brian Whittle has supported our Joan's Legacy campaign since its launch and helped arrange the meeting at Holyrood with Michael Matheson and subsequent meetings with representatives from Transport Scotland.

He said, "It's been a bit of a journey. It just shows you that if you start these campaigns and really work at it, you can actually make a difference.

"It was obviously tragic what happened but the case was compelling. Either side of this stretch has the cameras, about 30 miles worth. It is a notorious stretch of road. And what we managed to do was get the Cabinet Secretary to relook at this road, how these things are measured and the criteria that is required.

"It is a tragedy, but there is a legacy now in the hope that we can prevent something similar to this happening again in the future.

"I think I will be incredibly proud to have been a small part in helping the campaign into Holyrood and the hard work that has been done.

"I will allow myself a little bit of a smile on that road knowing that something we stuck with is actually going to bear fruit. There will be a bit of pride, but fairly poignant to be honest."

Listen to our campaign below.

Hear all the latest news from across Ayrshire on the hour, every hour, at West FM. Listen on FM, via our West FM app, on your DAB radio, online at WESTFM.co.uk, or say ‘Play WEST FM’ on your Smart Speaker.