Dalneigh householders fear rat-run danger

INVERNESS residents claim their area is being used as a rat run and fear there will be an accident.

Now councillors have decided householders in the affected area of Dalneigh should consulted on whether a 20mph speed limit would help ease the situation.

Some locals have raised concerns that there is an accident waiting to a happen as motorists are taking short cuts through Maxwell Drive, Smith Avenue and Park Road to avoid congestion in the city centre.

They raised the issue at a Highland Council Ward Forum held last week.

Now, Highland Council proposes to introduce an advisory speed limit of 20 mph on Maxwell Drive, Smith Avenue, Lindsay Avenue and Park Road.

The Ward Forum was held jointly by Inverness Central and Inverness West Wards. Participants included Bob Mitchell, area Manager north with Transport Scotland and Stagecoach’s managing director Steve Walker.

Councillors for the Inverness West Ward Alasdair Christie, Pauline Munro and Alex Graham agreed to finance the project from the Ward Discretionary Fund.

The streets in which the proposed scheme will run

Cllr Graham, who is depute provost and who chaired the Forum, said: "My ward colleagues and I felt there was a compelling case for introducing speed limits in this area. Some pedestrians such as older people or those walking with young children or pushchairs need extra consideration, especially as children are encouraged to walk to school.

"Having "20’s Plenty" advisory speed limits will make drivers more aware of the needs of all road users and discourage them from using the streets during peak time as a quick "rat run". They will improve road safety for everyone. Fortunately no injury road collisions have been recorded on these roads during the last three years, and we hope these limits will help to continue that in the future."

Leaflets with details of the proposals are to be delivered to local residents next week and people are invited to comment in writing about the proposal to Richard Evans, Area Roads & Community Works Manager, The Highland Council, 94 Diriebught Road Inverness IV2 3QN.

The council is also to consult with the Emergency Services prior to any implementation.