THE main stretch of road along Alva and Menstrie has become a "real racetrack" during lockdown, according to one Wee County councillor.

The village's Councillor Les Sharp issued a plea when scrutinising police performance in Clacks at last Thursday's, March 11, Partnership and Performance Committee at Clackmannanshire Council.

Statistics tabled on the day, relating to the time period between April and September 2020, showed an increase of almost 32 per cent in speeding incidents recorded on Wee County roads, compared to the same time the year before.

Seat belt offences also jumped from two recorded in 2019 to nine last year.

Offences related to insurance saw a marked nearly 71 per cent increase as well, going from 48 to 82.

Driving license offences also increased by more than 63 per cent, however, there was a 55 per cent reduction in dangerous driving incidents.

Presenting the figures at the virtual Kilncraigs chamber was Chief Inspector Audrey Marsh, area commander for Clackmannanshire.

She said: "In terms of the road safety, there were fewer cars on the roads, but there was a bit of an increase in speeding, due to the road being empty [with] space and opportunity to speed.

"In terms of driving license, insurance, seat belts, mobile phones, etc. the roads policing unit had fewer collisions on the roads so it gave them more time to patrol as well – and that resulted in [increases]."

Cllr Sharp sought to highlight the issue in Menstrie during the debate.

He said: "I was going to ask a question, but I'll phrase it as a plea on the speeding issue.

"The A91 seems to have become a real racetrack, if we could maybe make a plea for some proactive speeding controls along there, bit visibility from officers, it would be really appreciated.

"I think I've had probably six-seven complaints to me as a councillor about speeding along Menstrie Victoria Terrace and Alva.

"It seems to be predominantly – I think as you put it – the unlawful element that find it as a racetrack because there's no cars about that would slow the normal flow of traffic."

CI Marsh confirmed she would look into the matter, while Alva Cllr Martha Benny highlighted that extensive works are due to begin at Stirling Street in her town, as part of regeneration plans there.

She said: "I think we might not have too much of a problem in the next couple of weeks when they are going to be actually taking up half of the road up at the main part of Alva."

CI Marsh added that the latest figures relating to speeding, to be published in the future, are "almost identical to what they were now in the previous year so things seem to have evened themselves out" and there is a "significant downward trajectory".