Motorists approaching a north-east village from a new housing development will be forced to limit their speed to 40mph.
Councillors agreed that imposing the restriction on drivers using the A975 Newburgh to Cruden Bay road would increase public safety as people enter the latter community.
The change comes as the Claymore housing development to the south of Cruden Bay is being built, with the area’s population poised to expand.
The leader of Aberdeenshire Council, Jim Ingram, suggested the limit should be lower.
He said: “This road goes past the main entrance to a fairly substantial development.
“I’m concerned that 40mph on a stretch like that, which connects to the 30mph zone, will mean people are actually doing 50mph past that junction.
“I’m wondering why 30mph was not seen as more appropriate?”
Planning officers explained that the speed was decided due to policy.
Anne Allan asked whether the stretch would change later on to a 30mph zone once the housing was completed – as there would be an increase in people using the road.
But she was told that such a change would only come about if the agreed arrangement proved “inappropriate”.
