Moray Council is aiming to alleviate tailbacks of traffic at lights on Grantown Road in Forres

Moray Council’s contractor has promised to adjust traffic lights to alleviate traffic jams on a notoriously busy stretch of road.

Yunex Traffic is responsible for the signals at Forres Health and Care Centre and the St Catherine’s Road-Orchard Road junction that often cause frustration - particularly during rush hour.

A local authority spokesman claimed the lights operate on a set cycle, with green light durations tailored to the level of traffic.

He added: “We have and will continue to adjust signal timings on this route to better reflect current usage and improve traffic flow.”

Tailbacks have become a regular occurrence from Grantown Road to Bridge Street in the mornings and late afternoons since the controls were installed at the bottom of Mannachie Road in 2014, followed by the additional set at ‘the brig’ in 2023.

The development of new housing at the southern edge of town continues to compound the problem.

Knockomie Braes resident and Forres Community Councillor, Derek Hallas, feels Moray Council’s Roads department does not have the resources to help action some of the issues that are highlighted to them.

“The traffic at peak times has meant delays on Grantown Road due to often long waits for traffic lights to change,” he said.

“I have experienced many occasions where this has occurred over the last six months. Roadworks along the same road have also made the situation worse.

“There is a real need to change the traffic lights to allow greater flow from 7.30am-9am along Grantown Road for work traffic - this would make a huge difference.”

Local authority leader, Councillor Kathleen Robertson (Forres, Conservative) hopes “another attempt at re-phasing might help”.

She said: “It's deeply frustrating - I regularly get snarled in the tailbacks too.

“There is a need for a look at traffic flow but that will involve huge investment and require - at the very least - road widening.

“In the meantime, encouraging use of m.connect bus service and journey sharing, active travel and safer wheelable and pedestrian routes could help reduce the number of vehicles.”

She added: “A longer-term solution is urgently required as further developments occur to the south.”

Fellow councillor, Scott Lawrence (Forres, SNP), experiences the jams on his commute to Elgin but points out that the lights are necessary to manage the increasing volume of traffic.

“They cause few problems for the majority of motorists every day. They cause tailbacks at the peak times of 8.30am-9am, 3.15pm-3.45pm and 5pm-5.30pm but they allow for pedestrians including schoolchildren crossing the Grantown road.

“The volume of traffic has increased since the traffic lights were installed but we don’t know what the affect would be if there wasn’t any traffic management.”

Cllr Lawrence believes there are questions around historic planning decisions - pointing out that there are no alternative routes linking the west and east of the town by car.

He said: “I am going to try whenever possible to walk or cycle with my daughter to school.

“This is a more viable option as she gets older and active travel routes around town improve.

“However, I understand and often share people’s frustration and will continue to explore what can be done to improve the situation.”

New housing is under construction at the top of Mannachie Road - the foot of which ends at the health centre traffic lights on the Grantown road.

Mannachie residents are calling for road safety measures on the stretch to prevent speeding and potential accidents.

Some claim that this busy stretch is deteriorating as heavy goods vehicles and plant machinery join residents on the daily commute.

The council spokesperson said: “Springfield Properties widened the section south of Falconer Avenue, and will remain responsible for its maintenance until the road is adopted by Moray Council.”

Derek Hallas finished: ““Road safety issues are an ongoing concern for residents throughout Forres. We continue to push for measures to decrease the speeds of vehicles across the town.”