Road safety high on council agenda

ROAD safety featured high on the agenda of this month’s meeting of Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge & Achnacarry Community Council meeting.

The meeting was addressed by Inspector Isla Campbell of Police Scotland, who introduced new police liaison officer Sergeant Deborah McCartney.

Inspector Campbell gave a short explanation about the police issues that were important to the Lochaber community before answering questions.

Various concerns road safety in the about area were voiced by members, specifically issues relating to speeding vehicles, the apparent reluctance of Transport Scotland to implement their own speed limits review at Inverroy, the movement of wide loads and the impending closure of the Police Scotland Inverness control room.

Responding, Inspector Campbell was generally supportive and urged the community to report any near misses as well as incidents, as road network changes are driven by statistics.

She acknowledged the movement of wide loads on trunk roads was a particular problem, but pointed out it was not Police Scotland which was the authorising authority, but Transport Scotland.

She said wide loads causing problems by travelling without escorts, should be reported to police and these would be investigated.

However complaints about wide loads causing traffic congestion or complaints from members of the public about the time of day such loads were travelling, should be directed to Transport Scotland and/or the haulier involved.