Moray Council and Active Travel Forres respond to safety calls for cycle trail junctions
Concerned residents are calling for increased safety measures at two “blind” junctions on a popular cycle route between the town and the seaside.
Donnie McDonald has asked Moray Council to improve visibility at the B9011 (Kinloss road) turn-off for Milton of Grange; while Graham Murdoch wants the same at the end of the cycle path by Sueno’s Stone on Findhorn Road.
Donnie explained: “Cyclists travelling on the Findhorn cycle path towards Forres cross the minor road that leads off B9011 down to the farm at Mill of Grange. There is a ‘give way’ sign but occasionally cyclists fly over it without pausing. The view for cyclists and drivers is obscured by a high beech hedge.
“After observing some near misses I emailed Moray Council. Shortly afterwards, a cyclist went full tilt into the side of a neighbour's car. He was mostly unscathed but the damage to the car cost approximately £2000.
“The site at least requires a ‘cyclists dismount’ sign and a split gate.”
The route joins the official Moray Coastal Trail and is particularly popular in the summer with Forres folk heading to the beach.
Donnie warned: “Younger cyclists with less road sense are potentially at more risk of travelling into the path of motor vehicles.
“The hedge obscuring vision is very high. There are very often HGV's going down to the farm to pick up potatoes. Cyclists who miss the signage could end up under the wheels of such a tractor or lorry.”
Active Travel Forres founder, Judith Binney, is campaigning to make walking and cycling routes in the area safer.
She said: “There are many improvements that could be made there, however, we are prioritising routes to schools and Forres High Street so have not taken on the route to Findhorn yet.”
Moray Council has noted safety concerns at the junction were raised by a member of the public last year.
A spokesperson said: “We are developing a scheme to improve this intersection, with funding secured through a Scottish Government grant.
“Once the design is in place, we will consult with neighbouring properties before moving ahead. We anticipate that both the design and improvement works will be completed within the current financial year.”
Meanwhile, Forres Community Council treasurer, Graham Murdoch has reported similar issues near tourist attraction Sueno’s Stone on numerous occasions.
He said: “Cyclists happily take the sweeping bend off the bridge, freewheel down the slope there and emerge on the busy road from behind a hedge. Drivers have no notice of them before they’re right in front of them.
“I’ve had several near misses, including with a cyclist who was a hair’s breadth away from a collision. We both got a shock when he didn’t realise where the path ended, avoided my car but ended up on the bank on the other side of the road.”
Graham believes it is “only a matter of time” before there is a serious accident at the junction.
“I’ve flagged this up several times over the last 10 years,” he said. “The council just points out that there is a warning sign already in place.”
Judith Binney visited Findhorn Road with a council officer who highlighted the road markings and signs in place. Like Graham, Judith believes the main problem is a lack of sight lines for drivers.
She said: “The officer claimed that cyclists should give way to pedestrians at the bottom of the ramp, so they should be going slowly enough to stop but this often does not happen.
“Barriers at the bottom of the ramp have been suggested but removing barriers to active travel is policy.
“It was one of the areas identified on Active Travel’s original identification of dangerous areas in Forres.”
Judith suggests narrowing the road itself, taking the cars onto the opposite side, giving priority to traffic coming from Sueno’s Stone.
She said: “This would slow the cars down, and give more time for them to see cyclists.”
Moray Council is aware of the safety requests.
A spokesperson said: “We have allocated funding in this financial year to adjust the layout of the cycle track.
"We are looking into ways to improve cycling infrastructure in Forres and have submitted a funding application to support this. However, at this time, nothing has been confirmed."