CONCERNS about safety are one step closer to being addressed after villagers met council road bosses.

Residents of Uplawmoor who use the A736 Lochlibo Road between Barrhead and Irvine have long worried about the “dangerous” junction at the village’s entrance.

Earlier this year, community council representatives called for action to address the problems at the accident blackspot and last week a meeting was held in an attempt to resolve the issues.

A Freedom of Information request shows there have been 23 casualties on the stretch of road between Lugton and Barrhead in the past four years.

While no one has been killed on the route, local people are relieved to see the matter now being considered.

Council staff have agreed to improve signage surrounding the village, although they allegedly said speed limit changes would be difficult to implement.

A spokesman for Uplawmoor Community Council said: “The meeting went well.

“The council is going to take a fresh look at the road between the B776 and the layby adjacent to the village because there are a number of junctions and driveways.

“It is going to review all the signage, looking at removing, repositioning and installing electronic signs, and cutting or removing shrubbery to aid sightlines.

“The officials said they try to improve sightlines and get people to reduce speed.”

The A736 is a key route for those travelling between Ayrshire and East Renfrew-

shire, linking the villages in the north-west of the authority.

This meeting came just days before the latest accident at the road on Saturday morning, with a car leaving the road at the Neilston Road junction.

Police warned motorists to drive with extra care on rural roads such as this.

The council said the meeting with community councillors was “positive and constructive”. A spokesman added: “We were able to establish that their specific concerns are around the junction of the A736 Lochlibo Road with Neilston Road.

“Our priority is our residents’ safety, and we will look at this junction and consider whether improvements can be made.”