Terrence Graham, a long-time resident of the Ness Circle area of the town said he welcomes the council's decision to remove two chicane build outs - one opposite Meadowvale Nursing Home, while the other is situated on a bend at the top of Commercial Road leading onto Ness Circle.

Mr Graham spearheaded efforts to have them removed, claiming the build-outs, which include four bollards, have caused numerous accidents to vehicles and property. Although set to be torn up, officials say the build-outs and bollards may be replaced by speed bumps.

"I'm feeling great about the council's decision - everybody wants them moved, not just me," he told the Times on Friday. "This will hopefully stop the accidents that the bollards have caused - my main concern was a pedestrian on the pavement being struck by a vehicle on the pavement, so this is good news for everyone."

The decision followed an accident in December involving a van which slid onto the pavement adjacent to the upper build-out on the bend in slippery conditions. Following the incident, even the driver is claimed to have said he was "lucky" nobody was on the pavement at the time.
Complaints from nearby residents then prompted SNP Councillor Rob Merson to contact the council engineer about the risk to pedestrians, particularly during severe weather conditions, leading to a meeting last month with officials, including Grampian Police.

The Ellon Times has made a request to the council under the Freedom of Information Act for the cost to replace the bollards and for information regarding payouts the council has made for damage to vehicles and properties on the road.

Commenting on the decision, Cllr Merson said: "I was pleased to have been of some assistance to Mr Graham in this matter, and was grateful for the both expert contribution by Grampian Police and the positive response of the principal engineer for local roads.

"While a history of speeding complaints at that location indicates the need for traffic-calming measures, history also makes it clear that the build-outs were not the most appropriate form for that location.
"Hopefully a resolution has been achieved which will improve safety of pedestrians in the area, without the attendant risk of damage to vehicles or property. Of course, the most effective traffic-calming measure by far is to drive at speeds appropriate for the road conditions."

Meanwhile, Mr Graham has told his neighbours about his successful campaign.
He said: "I'm still getting people stopping me and asking me to get something done about the bollards - it is a great feeling to actually tell people they are going."

A December comment from a council spokesman said: "There is no issue with the bollards which would detract from the safety of road users or pedestrians." however, the following statement was released on Tuesday. "There is a meeting in March to discuss traffic calming options for Ness Circle in Ellon following a previous meeting regarding the current layout."