SAFETY measures put in place to avoid road accidents in Falkland could create more problems than they solve, it has been claimed. Fife Council's transportation department recently painted double yellow lines on High Street outside the village church opposite the historic fountain.

However, resident Bob Beveridge said the move has resulted in large lorries emerging from Cross ADVERTISEMENT Wynd trying to negotiate around the fountain instead of taking their usual route to the right of it.

This, he claims, means that vehicles often mount the kerb, some of them swinging dangerously close to the church railings and he fears this could result in a pedestrian being hurt or fatally injured.

Mr Beveridge told the Fife Herald that in his 30 years of living opposite the fountain, he had not come across any problems with lorries taking the right-hand route.

"My view is that lorries cannot go round the fountain without mounting the footpath and therefore posing a danger to pedestrians," he said.

"Recently I saw three young children jump up on the small wall and hold on to the railings when a vehicle passed.

"They thought they would be safe there but they could have been struck by the trailer which was just inches away.

"Quite a few years ago a child was tragically killed at Falkland Primary School when an articulated lorry was making a difficult manoeuvre.

"A similar occurence can easily be repeated at the church, unless something is done about it."

Falkland resident and Howe of Fife councillor David MacDiarmid said he shared concerns about large vehicles in the village.

"How somebody has not been 'flattened' outside Kind Kyttock's Kitchen beggars belief," he said.

"Goodness knows what the tourists make of it, but I'm pretty sure where they come from these 18-odd wheelers would not be tolerated using a road that was designed for a horse and cart!"

Fife Council's traffic management spokesperson, Colin Stirling, said: "Parking around the fountain was resulting in an obstruction in turning movements especially by large vehicles from the paper mill.

"We are promoting the use of waiting restrictions on the grounds of road safety.

"Lorries should not be mounting the pavement - the space there should suffice and it would be a case of poor driving if anyone can't negotiate the fountain.

"When we impose restrictions like this there is bedding in process which gives people time to get used to the changes. We usually then monitor the situation for 12 months.

Mr Stirling added: "These restrictions were imposed following detailed consultation with Falkland Community Council.

"Anyone who wants to report any problems is welcome to contact transportation by calling 01334 659330."