Traffic lights to be installed at Orchard Road and Grantown Road junction in Forres
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MORAY'S MSP has welcomed a fixed timescale for a new safe crossing in Forres.
In a letter to Richard Lochhead, Moray Council has confirmed the installation of signalled pedestrian and cyclist crossing facilities at the junction of Orchard Road and Grantown Road.
Mr Lochhead said: "There has been a real push from local residents to get crossing facilities at this busy junction for some time. The clear timeframe that has been set out for this major junction improvement will be be very welcome news for people in Forres.
"Orchard Road and Grantown Road are important routes from residential areas to the town centre and important public facilities including primary schools, Forres Academy and the swimming pool.
"Safer travel options also help to encourage people to walk and cycle, which is great for health and for the environment."
Moray Council initially promised to install lights at the junction by June 2015 following a story in the Gazette in October 2014 about the dangers of crossing there, particularly for young schoolchildren.
A crossing patrol officer worked at the busy crossroads until budget cutbacks forced her redundancy last June.
Forres Councillor Claire Feaver (Conservative) believes the planned safety measures "come not a moment too soon".
She said: "Local councillors have campaigned for many years to have lights and a pedestrian crossing placed on Orchard Road, due to the increase in traffic generated by the housing estates that have been built off Grantown Road and Mannachie Road.
"The main reason it hasn’t happened before is because of the council’s perennial shortage of cash and the long wait for money due from construction companies through developer obligations.
"I had hoped that we could have started this work this summer but due to the Covid-19 restrictions on work protocol it will now be delayed."
