Red Craig, Forres resident calls for speed limit reduction on increasingly busy Mundole road
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A RESIDENT of a street off a once-quiet country road is calling for speed restrictions as traffic continues to increase.
Having lived at 6 Red Craig near Mundole for almost 30 years, Donald Wilson has been ideally place to see more and more vehicles use the “rat-run” from south Forres to the A96 at the Findhorn Bridge.
He said: “Red Craig has approximately 32 houses, double that if you take Riverview Country Park into account. We have a mix of families including elderly people and children. It’s off a three mile narrow loop with passing places, which is very popular with walkers, joggers and cyclists of all ages.
“There are several pick-up points on the road for schoolchildren. It’s also used by residents returning from the bus stop on the A96. The road is now being more commonly used as a quick route for Inverness-bound traffic. It’s in constant use during the day and younger drivers use it as a speedway at night!”
Donald claims the traffic flow has increased as more homes have been built at the Grantown Road end of town. More traffic and insufficient safety measures means danger.
Donald said: “There’s a long straight where drivers can be heard putting their foot down. So far there have been three near misses on my corner. I’ve had one car hit my gate, another in my hedge which I replaced with a wall and one in my neighbour’s hedge. Also, children waiting for the school bus have to cross the road and wait on the side of what is often treated as a race track.”
Donald asked Moray Councillor George Alexander to highlight the issues on his behalf.
Cllr Alexander (Forres, Independent) said: “It was always just a matter of time until those who live on the south of town would see the Mundole road as a quick way to access the A96 if they were heading west. There are no junctions until you reach the Findhorn Bridge and this compares favourably with negotiating the traffic lights at Forres Care and Health Centre, the delay at the Orchard Road junction if traffic is waiting to turn off St Catherines Road, plus the fact that there is a 30mph limit all the way to the roundabout at Lidl. Ideally the road should have a lower speed limit and more provision for pedestrians. Dare I suggest that Forres needs a western link road!”
Donald would like to see a new speed limit on the road, which currently has a 60mph restriction.
He said: “The road from Red Craig Place to the A96 junction should be classed as a built-up area and the same speed restrictions should be put in place as you would find in town. If something isn’t done to calm the speed in the area, we will have a major accident.”
