Kilmarnock cartoonist sees traffic stop near his house

Jun 26 2009 by Lizzie Struthers, Kilmarnock Standard

VILLAGER Malky McCormick has been driven mad by speeding motorists.

For 40 years, the Waterside man has to put up with vehicles racing past his front door step.

But this week the traffic suddenly stopped coming along the A719 road.

Cartoonist Malky finally lived his dream of tranquil village life – by having his early morning coffee in the middle of the road.

East Ayrshire Council had closed the road for four days this week to allow resurfacing work to be done near neighbouring village Moscow.

“It is absolutely heaven having no lunatics racing along the road,” said Malky.

“The traffic is particularly mad from 7am in the morning.”

Malky blames motorists for failing to reduce their speed after leaving the M77 motorway onto the A719 road.

He had an out-of-control car crash into his home 25 years ago. His home, where he stays with his wife Ann, was badly damaged, but amazingly the driver was unhurt.

“I want to congratulate East Ayrshire Council for their forward thinking,” joked Malky.

“For years, they tried to slow down the traffic with signs and speed bumps but the answer was to shut the road.”

Malky added: “I thought it would be a bit of fun to set my table out on the road and quietly enjoy a coffee and a read of my newspaper in the sun.”