Village wins its fight for speed reductions
A BADENOCH village is celebrating the promise of reduced traffic speed of 30mph on its main road after years of campaigning – and just in time for the new A9 dualling upheavals.
Orders are set to be published in draft form soon and comments will be invited but Kincraig community representatives are confident that the long-standing 40mph limit will soon be cut.
Community council chairwoman Deirdre Falconer said: "We're delighted that, after years of campaigning to Highland Council and the police, common sense has finally prevailed and the speed limit on the B9152 through Kincraig will now be reduced to 30mph.
"Hopefully, drivers will respect this new speed limit and help make Kincraig a safer placer to be."
It's been a long haul, as one of the former community councillors recalled. John Anderson, as one-time watchdog secretary, passed many a piece of correspondence between the various authorities on behalf of the villagers.
He said: "We started long years ago to make the village safer as cars come through here far too fast for comfort. Deirdre and community council secretary Lesley Dudgeon have to be congratulated on pushing things forward to reach this stage."
Mr Anderson explained: "A new roads manager – who, incidentally, lives in Fort William – now has sole responsibility for roads between Mallaig and Nairn.
"He has been met on several occasions.
"Part of the progress may be related to the realisation that Alvie Primary School and several houses are on the opposite side of the B9152 from the rest of the village – houses only on one side, as at Lynchat, are allowed a 40mph limit.
"But now the powers that be are at last aware of the actual situation in Kincraig.
"Access and departure difficulties at the school entrance have also been eased by improved passing arrangements up the school drive."
Mrs Dudgeon commented: "Hopefully a 'smiley face' speed sign should also appear.
"This is highly relevant as we move forward to the expectation that increases in traffic seem likely as and when dualling of the A9 picks up connecting the Kincraig upgrade with further new stretches north and south."
There was praise for the Kincraig watchdog from local Highland councillor Pippa Hadley.
She said: "Kincraig and Vicinity Community Council have shown conviction and tenacity whilst working relentlessly to achieve a safer environment for their village.
"I am delighted that they have won this outcome.
"Witnessing the co-operative approach between the community council and the road officers in working towards this great result has highlighted for me how essential community engagement is when shaping our built environment especially at local level."
The community council has said that its next road safety objective is to improve the visibility for motorists at the war memorial T-junction with The Brae. Views for drivers joining the B9152 are very limited.
