A Moray councillor is demanding action to crackdown on motorists speeding through the region’s motorists.
Residents have repeatedly raised concerns about drivers flouting the speed restrictions,
In Hopeman last year, residents got so fed up they took matters into their own hands, by donning fluorescent jackets and pointing hairdryers towards the road from the gardens, mimicking police with speed guns.
Councillor Marc Macrae said he regularly receives complaints about the speed of motorists in Garmouth, Thomshill, Urquhart, Portgordon and Fochabers.
Now he has called for action to tackle the problem, including educating drivers on the dangers they pose to pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists.
He said: “I see almost daily the number of motorists who blatantly ignore the speed restriction signs when coming off the A96 into Fochabers from the Spey Bay roundabout.
“Quite often some are travelling at near twice the legal limit of this road (30mph) and given that this route is well used by schoolchildren, cyclists, walkers and other road users, such speeds cause a significant increased risk to others.
“I call upon motorists to observe the speed limits and to be more aware of their surroundings especially when driving within villages and smaller hamlets and will be seeking further intervention by Police Scotland as well as seeking input from council officers as to what traffic calming measures, if any, could be considered in such areas.”
The Fochabers Lhanbryde councillor’s call for action comes just months after the administration voted against carrying out a feasibility study to implement 20mph limits in Moray villages.
Speyside Glenlivet councillor Louise Laing, from the opposing SNP group, called for the study to be undertaken and outlined the safety improvements that can result from a 20mph limit.
However, the call for information on costings was rejected by the Tory and Independent administration, with council leader George Alexander claiming the authority had “more important things to deal with”.
Asked last night why he had voted against the idea, Mr Macrae said: “It is clear we need to focus on driver education and that is more important, and less expensive, than implementing 20mph zones.
“Police are doing what they can with their recourses but we need to work with the public as well. We need to take a measured approach to create change.”
He has now teamed up with Moray MP Douglas Ross to push for action.
It was welcomed by Rothes resident Diane McBain, who described the issue as a “nightmare”.
She said: “Every hour of the day we are affected by speeding cars and lorries. The noise keeps me up during the night and the house vibrates when heavy vehicles go past.
This is a problem affecting the whole area, and we need an explanation on what will be done.”
