New 20mph zone set for Inverness by April
ALMOST 100 new speed limit signs could be put up in a proposed new 20mph zone for Inverness.
Highland Council held a drop-in public consultation event for its plan to convert 23 roads, including some on either side of the River Ness and near Bught Park, into lower speed limit areas.
If successful, the new limits would be in place by the end of March next year.
Kenneth Street is included in the plan, but the limit would apply only to a one-way segment of the road and not the section which is part of the A82.
It is hoped the planned changes will increase road safety.
At the drop-in session on Tuesday the council’s programme manager for active travel Fiona McInally said the proposals followed discussions with Ballifeary Community Council.
She said there was a “perceived rat run” along riverside streets.
Brian MacKenzie, from the Highland Cycle Campaign, thought that changes would encourage more people to use cycling as a method of transport.
“It’s good that they are doing this but the council has been forced into doing this piecemeal,” he said.
“The Scottish Government, a few years ago, promised that they were going to make it easier for councils to have blanket 20mph limits for the whole area.”
The changes would be paid for using Scottish Government funding.
The plans sparked a huge response on the Inverness Courier’s Facebook page when they were reported last week, including many people with suggestions for other parts of the city that could benefit.
Fiona Watson said: “How about suggesting Carse Road be made one way so all the traffic avoiding Telford Street would not be able to speed along it?
“It is beside a primary school and there are buses, vans and cars flying along day and night with no respect for others.”
Mairi Lumsden said: “Why not Diriebught Road? After all, it has a school where the students who walk or cycle (with no cycle lane) or are brought by car all have to access one gate.
“Diriebught Road should have been 20mph long before now.
“Parents need to campaign for this before we have a serious accident.”
Grant Street in Merkinch, Leachkin Road in Kinmylies and Caulfield Road were among other suggestions.
Not everyone is a fan of the idea though.
John Stanners branded blanket 20mph zones “ridiculous”.
“Have them at schools and nowhere else,” he said.
“All you are doing is causing increased pollution as vehicles have to stick in low gear with increased revs.”
