Residents in and around an Aberdeenshire town have had enough of speeding drivers and want to see reduced speed limits on unclassified rural roads.
Last year, Perth and Kinross Council introduced so-called ‘green routes’ with 30mph and 40mph limits to improve rural roads for cyclists, walkers and equestrians.
And now, a group of people living in Ellon and the surrounding area want to see similar changes implemented there.
Locals have taken to social media to express their support for the idea, as well as their disgust over the behaviour of “boy racers” and other inconsiderate drivers.
Problem spots identified include Auchnagatt, Berefold, Arnage, Schivas, Coalmoss, Drumwhindle, Tipperty, Tarty, Esslemont and Ythanbank.
Pauline Smith said: “Some people just don’t care. There are kids walking and cycling to school as well as people riding horses, and the traffic passing on the single track road doesn’t slow down.
“We’ve had a head-on collision outside our house and the school bus swerving and ending up in my fence.
“It’s shocking and even worse at the times of day when kids are going in and out of school.
“They just don’t give a second thought to the other road users, and as there are no pavements, that’s the kids.”
Susan Hay added: “This is a great idea. Any single track road should have a reduced speed limit.
“A 60mph limit on single track roads with poor forward visibility is not on.”
Hayley Burnett cited “absolutely ridiculous speeds, when there are livestock going about and children playing.”
And Alistair Walker said: “Speed reduction on these narrow winding roads has to be a good idea, but 40mph is still too fast.”
Ellon and District councillor Richard Thomson said: “It’s an interesting idea that’s definitely worth following up to see if and how it has lived up to expectations elsewhere.
“Aberdeenshire has enormous potential for cycling, whether that’s for sport, leisure or tourism.
“I think that it’s worth taking an in-depth look at how we can do more to encourage cycling and to improve road user awareness more generally – a network of more cycle-friendly rural routes with lower speed limits where appropriate is certainly worth considering as part of that.”
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council added: “We’re happy to speak to any community which has proposals for increased road safety in its area.”
