Bid to keep 40mph speed limit through Furnace is welcomed
Community council welcomes bid to make cut permanent
TRAFFIC on a busy trunk road through a Loch Fyne-side village will be permanently restricted to slower speeds if plans by Transport Scotland go ahead.
It has been 12 months since the government agency responsible for trunk roads introduced an extended 40mph speed limit on a yearlong trial on the A83 between Furnace and Crarae.
As the trial period ends, Transport Scotland has extended the temporary measure while it prepares to make the lower speed limit permanent.
Furnace Community Council, though, has heard nothing from Transport Scotland about the next steps.
Community council chairman Mike Masters said: ‘I’ve had no official notification the limit is to be made permanent. However, I have been told the notices originally put up on posts along the road have recently been changed to one stating that an application has been made to make the 40mph limit permanent. This does sound promising. In the meantime, I would say that the new limit has brought about a great improvement for all those who live along this section of road.
‘Lower speed has reduced traffic noise and the combination of lower speed and a wider footpath has made a huge difference to those who use it to access the village. All in all, a very positive result.’
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: ‘We introduced the temporary speed limit between Furnace and Cumlodden following discussions with the local community last year. We are monitoring traffic speeds and personal injury accidents in the area and extended the temporary order to allow us to complete our evaluation and progress a permanent order.
‘We will provide the community council with feedback in the coming months and listen to their views before deciding on the best way forward.’
The Argyllshire Advertiser asked the public for views on the success or otherwise of the lower speed limit.
The consensus was that it had been a good idea, with some people suggesting the 40mph should be extended to include bends on the A83 north of Furnace beyond Powdermills.