Energy firm responds to Kingussie lorry danger
AN energy company has been praised for diverting "lumbering" heavy lorries away from Kingussie and Newtonmore's high streets in response to residents' concerns.
They were worried about potential safety issues caused by the routing of heavy lorries through the centres of their communities at the height of the summer holiday season.
Mr Dave Thompson, Badenoch MSP, contacted Scottish and Southern Energy to pass on suggestions of an alternative route for the heavy traffic carrying aggregate for the firm’s Laggan Spey Dam works.
SSE has now taking this on board and the HGVs will no longer be going through Kingussie and avoiding the centre of Newtonmore.
Mr Thompson explained: "I was contacted by constituents who were fearful that the regular appearance of convoys of huge eight-wheeler tipper trucks, each carrying up to 30 tonnes of aggregate for SSE’s works at Laggan Dam, could lead to tragic consequences because of the large number of cyclists on the area’s roads in the summer months.
"On top of this was the concern that the presence of these unsightly, lumbering trucks could have a detrimental effect on the area’s tourism."
The lorries belong to a contractor working for SSE and Mr Thompson contacted the utility to pass on suggestions for an alternative route for the traffic that would avoid both communities by keeping the trucks on the A9 before turning off beyond Newtonmore.
A spokesman for SSE apologised for the worry and distress caused to residents.
He added: "In recognition of the concerns raised, as a matter of courtesy to the local residents of both Kingussie and Newtonmore we have made the decision to divert HGV traffic to avoid these locations where possible."
The new route for the lorries means that from Kincraig Quarry, HGVs stay on the A9 (as opposed to turning off before Kingussie) until after Newtonmore, then turn right to join the B9150, continuing on and taking a left onto the A86 towards Laggan.
The route change means the HGVs do enter Newtonmore for a part but avoid the main street. Kingussie is now avoided completely.
SSE’s speedy response pleased Mr Thompson, who said: "I was glad to hear within a week that SSE had instructed its contractor to direct its drivers to avoid the centre of both Kingussie and Newtonmore.
"It was a simple change but one that I am sure will make life a little better for residents of both communities and also for visitors to the area. SSE are to be congratulated for taking such swift action to make this common-sense improvement."