ROSNEATH residents' concerns over parking at a busy junction in the centre of the village have been answered – at least on a temporary basis.

Following renewed warnings that someone could be killed if a pedestrian crossing isn't installed soon outside the new Co-op in the village, police put out temporary cones outside the shop on Friday.

And villagers have been told that a crossing at the junction of the B833 and Clachan/Ferry Road WILL happen – it's just a question of when it is installed.

People living in Rosneath have been urging that a permanent crossing be put in place outside the store since it opened its doors in May.

The new shop has led to a significant increase in both pedestrian and vehicle numbers at the junction – and to growing worry that a serious or fatal accident could happen as a result.

Residents are particularly worried about an increase in the number of vehicles parking on the pavement on the B833 outside the shop.

A Facebook group, 'Parking Like a Clown at the Rosneath Co-op', has seen more than 60 pictures posted so far of vehicles parked at or on the pavement.

At a meeting in the village last week, local councillors George Freeman and Maurice Corry promised that the crossing would happen.

But neither they nor the third Lomond North councillor, Robert MacIntyre, were able to say when it would be put in place.

Local resident June Cameron told Rosneath and Clynder Community Council: “I was very nearly mown down the other day. The junction is more dangerous now than it ever was before the new Co-op was built.

“Somebody's going to get killed. Is that what it takes to get it done?”

Councillor Corry told the meeting that a report on the crossing would be presented to Argyll and Bute Council's Helensburgh and Lomond area committee in December.

“It will happen,” he said. “Definitely. We're just waiting for a survey to be completed.”

Councillor Freeman added: “It will happen. They [council officials' have just got to identify when it will happen.”

In response to residents' parking concerns, police put out a line of 'No Parking' cones outside the shop on Friday morning after a request by Cllr Freeman.

Further cones have since been put in place on the opposite side of the road.

The topic was first discussed by Helensburgh and Lomond councillors in June, when members were told that the crsossing would have to be paid for at the expense of another 'capital project' in the Lomond North ward.

But Cllr Freeman told the community council last week that councillors did not yet know which project would lose out as a result.

Encouraging people to report any incidents to the police, Cllr Freeman said: “It's not illegal to park on a pavement. But it is illegal to drive on to a pavement and drive off it.

“If you see any vehicle parking there, report it to the police, because only they can take action.”

Councillor MacIntyre added: “Anybody with any common sense wouldn't park there.

“Nobody is more disappointed than me that the crossing wasn't put in when the new Co-op was done. The money was there at first, but it took so long for the Co-op to be built that the money was used for something else.”

Community councillor Ken Smith advised Rosneath residents to keep lobbying the council on the issue.

“The more action we can take as individuals, the better,” he said .

“We're trying to get a crossing as quickly as possible but the council moves extremely slowly.”