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Dores villagers demand action over speeding motorists





A mobile speed camera.
A mobile speed camera.

RESIDENTS in the scenic Loch Ness-side village of Dores are complaining about the speed of traffic and the number of lorries using their main through road.

The issue was raised this week at a meeting of Dores and Essich Community Council and also at court when a forestry contractor admitted speeding at more than twice the limit near the village’s primary school.

Community Council chairwoman Ella MacRae said yesterday that making the area safer had been on the agenda for a number of years and it was now awaiting a council engineer’s report about how best to tackle the problem.

"We are not only worried about outside the school but also through the village and the number of vehicles and lorries in general using the road," she said.

"We are also really concerned what is going to happen when there is some planned tree felling in the future near Foyers.

"There is a 30mph limit through the village but traffic is still going through very fast. The police were out monitoring the road some time ago but we are looking to make the road safer."

She explained Highland Council road engineers had suggested changing the traffic flow outside the Dores Inn, but this had been rejected by community councillors and they had gone back to the drawing board.

She added: "I know the council says it has a shortage of money and it is cash-strapped, but we are still keeping chipping away to get something done."

Before the village, on the B862, the limit is 60mph but drops to 20mph past Aldourie Primary during the school run and lunch times. It then changes to 30mph through the village.

The area has seen a combination of factors lead to increased traffic and heavy lorries including road improvements, wind farm developments and forestry operations.

Mrs MacRae said: "It might help matters if the council were to stagger the limit near the school, dropping from 30mph to 20mph perhaps, and maybe that should be looked at, but motorists would still have to adhere to it."

She added rumble strips had been removed near the school when road surfacing had taken place and had not been replaced, but there had been no complaints.

The council said a part-time 20mph speed restriction around Aldourie Primary was part of a national programme created by Scottish Government funding.

"Guidance was introduced by Scottish Government to enable Local Authorities to install 20mph zones around rural schools," said a spokeswoman.

"This recognised that not all rural schools were in 30mph zones but could be in 60mph zones and allowed for the installation of advance warning signs.

"At Aldourie there are part-time advance warning signs with flashing lights which tell motorists of the approaching 20mph speed limit. The rumble strips will be replaced."

They added that they were aware of community calls for improvements and had been in discussion with them, but there were currently no firm plans or funding for further work.

Police Scotland said road safety and avoiding casualties was a high priority.

"Speed checks are regularly conducted outside schools as part of our on-going commitment to influence road user behaviour and make Scotland’s roads safer," he added.


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