Vehicle weight restriction proposed for popular cut-through in Newtonmore
A Badenoch village is being asked to comment on Highland Council’s suggested solution to controversial roadway problems in one of its corners.
The local authorioty has published its weight restriction order for the U2229 - locally known as Curley’s Lane in Newtonmore with the aim of ‘improving the general safety of all road users and to prevent damage to a building on the road’.
If the order comes into effect, a weight restriction of 3.5 tonnes will come into effect on the lane.
Newtonmore Community Council secretary Graham Fraser said: “Road safety has always been the concern, not damage to properties on the corner, so the weight restriction does nothing to address the road safety concerns which we had.
“Personally I’m not clear how that can be enforced except by road signs. Indeed, the bull barriers removed after a Tesco driver mounted them would probably be more effective in stopping larger vehicles going down that part of the lane.”
The order states: “No person shall drive or cause or permit to be driven any vehicle of which the maximum gross weight whether loaded or unloaded exceeds 3.5 tonnes on the entire length of the Lane inclusive of the two arms of its double junction with the C1135 Newtonmore Station – Golf Course Road.”
Exemptions will apply to the emergency services; or to enable persons to be set down or picked up at premises if those premises cannot be accessed from another road/car park.
Building operations or obstructions from the road, road maintenance operations and laying of pipes for utility supplies or telecoms will also be allowed to use the lane along with those in the service of the council.
A copy of the order can be inspected on the Highland Council’s website or at the Grantown Service Point, The Town House, The Square, Grantown from 10am to 1pm, Tuesday and Thursday).
Objections can be made in writing, up until next Friday (12) to: LNBS Senior Engineer, Balblair Road, Nairn IV12 5LT or by emailing: Roads.LNBS@highland.gov.uk
