Councillors have hit back at plans to close down a busy Aberdeenshire village road which will force bin lorries to reverse down it for collections.
Proposed traffic management measures on Insch’s Martin Road have been thrown out by local members amid concerns they
would pose a safety hazard and increase congestion on surrounding streets.
Following a public consultation, Aberdeenshire Council officers proposed revoking the one-way system currently in place on the street and closing off the road to through traffic.
This solution would have forced refuse vehicles to reverse down the route from neighbouring George Street for collections.
A second option was for Martin Road to be closed to traffic, but for collapsible bollards to be put in place to allow bin lorries to continue through in forward gear.
However, objectors claimed the plans would lead to an increase in traffic on nearby roads including George Street and Alexander Street.
They also feared the reversing bin lorries would pose an increase risk to school children and other walkers.
The traffic management plan was required after the Garioch area committee backed plans for 12 new flats at the rear of the Commercial Hotel, on Martin Road, in March.
The council’s roads service did not object to the application on the condition a traffic regulation order was put in place on the street.
Debating the plans at this week’s committee, deputy provost and SNP West Garioch councillor, Allison Grant, said: “I think we need to think again about how we are doing this. It is a very local issue that has caused gave concerns for the community. The community council has very thoroughly investigated this.”
Fellow ward councillor, independent Sheena Lonchay, said: “If we were to block up Martin Road, I think we are adding considerably to the danger of that whole area and for children.
“I do think this is a hazard. I am not wiling to put the safety of children in school in jeopardy.”
Conservative councillor for the area, Patricia Oddie, said: “I don’t see it is going to improve safety. It is a very expensive alternative to a problem.”
However, the council said that bin vehicles – which are fitted with reversing cameras – would only have had to perform the manoeuvre once a week, and not during busy times.
A spokesman for the council’s roads team said: “In our opinion we are going to make Martin Road safer. There is nothing to suggest that these junctions aren’t safe.”
The committee agreed to refuse the traffic management plan on the grounds of safety issues.
