DESPERATE calls for improved safety measures on a road in Johnstone where two people were killed in the space of a week have been answered with the installation of speed cameras.

Beith Road was the location of two fatal road collisions in 2014 and several other minor accidents over the past few years.

Speed surveys also show that speeding is a huge issue on the road with 72.7 per cent of cars travelling on the road area above the 30mph speed limit.

Connor Sanderson, 21, was involved in a fatal car crash on Beith Road, near Johnstone High School, in March 2014.

The Johnstone man was killed when he lost control of his car and ploughed into a tree.

Young dad Connor crashed just yards from the spot where retired Auchenlodment Primary School teacher Frankie King was killed a month earlier.

The 65-year-old was hit by a car as she walked along Beith Road near its junction with Rannoch Drive.

Both of the tragic accidents prompted calls for action and now, three years later, there will be a fixed speed camera on Beith Road.

Due to the tragic 2014 deaths, two devices will be installed – one on each side of the road. It is expected that they will be in place by the end of March.

Some residents have argued the cameras aren’t close enough to Johnstone High school, near to where one of the fatal accidents took place, but Johnstone community council chairman Ron Ewing said any progress was welcome.

He said: “I’m sure that Johnstone residents will welcome the new camera following the tragic accidents that have happened on the road.

“It is shocking that over 70 per cent of drivers are over the speed limit – I had no idea it would be as much as this.

“Two people have lost their lives driving up this Beith Road so this should hopefully make the community safer.

“It would be good to see other cameras put elsewhere though or there should be more police presence where there are less cameras. No one wants to be fined or to receive points – this should be a great benefit to Johnstone.”

Work on installing the cameras will start this week and will be funded by the Scottish Safety Camera Programme.

The penalty for speeding is a £100 fine and three points on a licence.