A MOVE to slow down traffic through Saline and Steelend is to be considered.

West Fife and coastal village councillors Graeme Downie (Labour) and Sam Steele (SNP) had their motion agreed to consider reducing the speed limits through the two villages.

Members of the South and West Fife area committee unanimously backed their request for a speed reduction report for Saline and Steelend at their meeting. 

That report will outline plans to reduce the speed limit through Steelend from 40mph to 30mph and on Main Street, Saline, from 30mph to 20mph. 

It’ll be brought back to committee for consideration in September. 

“The issue of speeding through some parts of South West Fife is of great concern to our local communities,” Cllr Downie explained. 

READ MORE: Concerns raised over speeding in the village

“No more so than in some of West Fife villages where sometimes – because of the nature of the roads – you see people  somewhat consistently speeding through parts of the area.” 

He continued: “That has been true in Saline for a number of years now.”

The motion noted the “ongoing concerns” of residents “over speeding traffic entering and passing through both villages” and acknowledged the proximity of Main Street, Saline local amenities and the Saline Primary School. 

“The committee is aware of the proximity of Main Street, Saline to local amenities and Saline Primary School,” the motion stated. 

“The committee highlights recent crashes and near misses at approaching and leaving Saline from Steelend and West Road.”

The motion continued: “[We] believe this rural part of Fife requires additional measures to reduce speeding and improve safety for local people.” 

It’s not the first time that driving speeds through the West Fife Villages have come up at committee, and it’s not the first time councillors are hearing about local concerns. 

Cllr Steele emphasised that speeding issues have been mentioned at “every single community council meeting” in Saline and Steelend since 2022. 

For the past two years, the community council and local residents have been campaigning for awareness and asking for help to reduce driving speeds through their villages. 

They’ve been engaging with Police Scotland, using pop-up policemen, and various other methods to try to slow drivers entering the villages down.

However, councillors Downie and Steele believe more can still be done. 

“I think it’s appropriate where we have these opportunities to lower speed limits to improve safety. We should take that opportunity where there is clear agreement and in this case a clear campaign from the local community,” Cllr Downie added.