20mph limits agreed amid criticism of Highland Council’s ‘ostrich school of consultation’ as calls for nuanced approach were rejected by bosses

Highland Council has made new 20mph speed limits across the region permanent amid significant criticism of what was called the “ostrich school of consultation”.

The economy and infrastructure committee agreed to a Traffic Road Order making the new limits permanent in 125 settlements across the region.

Councillors were generally supportive of appropriate 20mph limits while at the same time noting major problems with the implementation – not least of all enforcement.

A number of issues came to the fore as once again the debate became a lightning rod about trust in the local authority and if it is or is not a “listening council”.

Councillor Duncan Macpherson could not find the evidence in the consultation responses for supporting the policy calling it the ‘ostrich school of consultation’.

That was largely down to two factors – more than 50 per cent of people are against the blanket introduction of 20mph limits and the council discarded those views.

But Councillor Michael Cameron made an arresting argument that the new 20mph limit could prompt a sea change in how the public views speeding vehicles.

He said that once drink and driving was seen as acceptable but no longer is, a similar change for speeding could begin to save lives on the roads.

That was particularly mentioned with reference to Badenoch and Strathspey, the NC500 and Lochaber where according to local members many backed the scheme.

Concerns were voiced about how some sections of road would change abruptly from trunk road speeds down to 20mph in certain communities, while others missed out.

Administration members tried and failed to narrow the discussion to purely safety concerns, as the opposition members sought a more nuanced approach.

Councillor Trish Robertson tabled an amendment calling for the new limits to go ahead but for them to be reviewed in a year’s time.

That was to see what worked best and where, and potentially included opt-ins for communities that may want speeds reduced to 20mph – but it was rejected.

Effectively they were arguing in some ways for the same thing – more safety except the opposition realised that Police Scotland cannot enforce the speed limits.

That raised the question of policing by consent and trying to win over the public so that it becomes the norm for people to adhere to the new limit.

Earlier, MSP Edward Mountain accused the council of deviating from the ‘spirit’ of the original Transport Bill by failing to secure comprehensive support.

At committee meetings on the Bill, he said, it was felt essential because ‘if councils targeted the limits in critical areas that they would have public support’.

The council’s implementation of the temporary speed limit appears for many to have been excessive leading more than 50 per cent to reject the proposal.

Officials then talked down the number of responses to their own consultation while arguing the 43 per cent who are supportive is unusually high.

But 50.7 per cent remains higher than 43 per cent so it was argued that “few people who are supportive of [traffic road] orders engage in the consultation process”.

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