North-east road safety campaigners are celebrating after the speed limit on a notorious Aberdeenshire road was slashed.
Whiterashes residents have been fighting to have the limit on the A947 Aberdeen to Banff road – which runs through their village – cut from 50mph to 40mph.
And now, the local authority has sanctioned the change on the route, which has been the scene of 20 fatal accidents since 2005.
The reduction is set to come into place “imminently” in the hope of deterring speeding.
It comes following a public consultation into plans to cut the limit, which did not produce any objections from the local community.
Digital “Your Speed” signs were brought into Whiterashes in 2014, following a string of complaints from residents about speeding through the village.
Last night, East Garioch councillor, Martin Ford, said the move would make Whiterashes a safer place for locals.
The Democratic Independent and Green Group member asked council officers to undertake a formal consultation on the 40mph limit in June last year.
Mr Ford added: “There has been a long-standing wish for a lower speed limit through Whiterashes. Walking along the pavement right next to vehicles travelling at 50 mph can be unpleasant and intimidating.
“I’m very pleased the campaign for a lower speed limit through Whiterashes has been successful.
“I fully understand why residents have sought to have the speed of traffic reduced.
“The interactive ‘Your Speed’ signs installed a couple of years ago were a step in the right direction. That improvement made it possible to get agreement to lowering the speed limit.
“I look forward to the lower speed limit being introduced this autumn.”
A council spokesman said: “The Garioch area committee made a request to consider reducing the speed limit at Whiterashes during a discussion on the council’s A947 route improvement strategy.
“A consultation on the proposed change has just closed, and all 15 representations from the public were positive, with no objections.
“As such the traffic order to reduce the current 50mph speed limit to 40mph will now be made and signage will be changed in the next few weeks to reflect this.”
