A FED up cyclist has served Dumfries and Galloway Council with an order to repair a rural road in Annandale.
Martyn Lindley, who lives at Middlebie, is sick of continually reporting potholes and dangerous breakage issues on the B725 which links the village with Ecclefechan.
He believes it’s ‘an accident waiting to happen’ and flagged up the worst part as being between Middlebie and Cleughbrae, but added: “Arguably you could choose any section. It’s not just the potholes, it’s the gutters created by the lorries and farm machines that are using the roads that were designed for vehicles no bigger than a horse and cart.”
So this week Mr Lindley served the local authority with a notice in terms of Section 56 of the Highways Act 1980, which alleges that the public highway that is the B725 is ‘out of repair’
The council now have a month to state whether they admit the route is a highway and they are liable to maintain it.
Upon their response, Mr Lindley can apply to the courts asking them to require Dumfries and Galloway Council to ‘put it in proper repair’.
Explaining why he took such drastic action, Mr Lindley said: “I, like lots of others, are fed up of complaining to the council and MSPs/MPs.
“My partner and I are keen cyclists and I’ve invited all and sundry to accompany us on a white knuckle bike ride and see the dangers from a perspective other than a four wheeled SUV. Needless to say, there’s been no takers.”
And he says the problems are regionwide, adding: “You could choose any in the county. There are war torn countries with better roads than Dumfries and Galloway.
“It’s bad enough when driving a car but the problem is magnified when you’re on two wheels without any protection.”
Dumfries and Galloway Council were contacted for comment.
