Robust defence of lower 20mph limits in strath made by local Highland councillors
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Two local Highland councillors have come out strongly in favour of the 20mph limits being retained in the strath.
It follows recent calls by a party rival who has hit out at what he claims are blanket limits across the region - and has called on the local authority to end their roll-out.
The 20mph limits in the region which are part of a Scottish Government funded trial will be reviewed later this year or in early 2025.
Local authority chiefs will be carrying out community council surveys followed by an online public consultation later in the year.
This will form part of the overall evaluation report that will then go to council meeting in late 2024 or early 2025.
Final decisions will then be made on which streets should be retained at 20mph or revert back to 30mph.
Aviemore’s lengthy Grampian Road - the main street - is one where there are mixed opinions especially away from the village centre.
But local members in Badenoch and Strathspey have launched a stauch defence of the 20mphs zones currently in place in towns and villages across the area.
To those clamouring for the scrapping of 20mph limits, including Conservative Westminster Candidate Ruraidh Stewart, I would ask the question is a child’s life worth 90 seconds out of your ever so busy life?”
Councillor Bill Lobban said: “20mph zones were put in place for one simple reason – it is safer for pedestrians and other non-motorised road users.
“They are not anti-motorist but they are pro-keeping pedestrians and in particular children safe on our streets.
“To travel from one end of the 20pmh zone to the other on Grampian Road takes approximately an additional 90 seconds when travelling at 20mph compared to 30mph.
“And even then only if you can actually manage to do a steady 30mph given Grampian Road has a set of traffic lights, a roundabout and four pedestrian crossings within the 20mph zone. A pedestrian has a 20 per cent chance of being killed when struck by a car travelling at 30mph this falls dramatically to 2.5 per cent at 20mph.
“The statistics are even starker for children.
“To those clamouring for the scrapping of 20mph limits, including Conservative Westminster Candidate Ruraidh Stewart, I would ask the question is a child’s life worth 90 seconds out of your ever so busy life?”
Fellow local councillor Muriel Cockburn (SNP) also backed the 20mph zones. She said: “As elected members we were asked by our communities to do something about speed in their communities, that is why we had a successful pilot in the strath and led the way.
“It is important that we continue to put pedestrian safety at the centre of our decision-making.
“Many councils across Scotland and rest of UK have implemented this policy and more are planning to do so.”
Ken Gowans, chairman of Highland Council’s economy and infrastructure committee, said: "This is a trial as most people understand and Councillor Stewart is aware of this.
“I agreed to introduce the trial, which is fully funded, in the interests of road safety, and widely welcomed within housing developments and built-up areas.
“Once the trial concludes some 20mph limits will revert and some while others will remain, plus we have also had a good number of people asking for more to be added too. A very robust consultation has been undertaken to gather as many views as possible especially targeting local residents who, after all, know their areas best.
“Councillor Stewart is entitled to his views but it is not reflected in the responses we have received so far.”
The Strathy asked all four local councillors for their thoughts on the 20mph zones.
What do you think? Should 20mph zones be retained on Grampian Road and elsewhere in the strath? Let us know at editorial@sbherald.co.uk
