Highland Council examining 20mph speed limit consultation feedback ahead of crunch vote this spring
Motorists and pedestrians’ feedback over the region’s new 20mph limits is now being examined by Highland Council ahead of a vote which could make them permanent this spring.
The local authority began introducing the lower limits in communities all across the north in summer 2023 as part of a safety pilot.
Since then they have been introduced in more than 125 different Highland towns and villages.
A lower 20mph speed limit is known to dramatically cut the chances that a pedestrian struck by a vehicle will die, and those in favour of the schemes say they have been proven to save lives.
The pilot was not without its detractors though, with some in the region hitting out at the cost of installing all of the new signage and other speed reduction measures, while also arguing that they have not cut car speeds by as much as hoped.
Highland Council has stressed, however, that the money for the pilot was fully funded by Transport Scotland, and no council tax was used to implement them or monitor their effectiveness.
The pilot schemes had initially been time-limited, with temporary traffic orders being used to reduce the limits, with these now due to expire this July unless a vote is held to make them permanent.
Highland Council is now seeking to do so, and once it has examined all feedback from a recent public consultation, it plans to vote on the finalised list of reduced limits in May.
Confirming that it will be responding to all those who took part in the consultation, a Highland Council spokesperson said: “The formal consultation period took place from December ’24 to mid-February ’25.
“The council are currently responding to all correspondence received during this statutory consultation period and all responses will appear in the paper going to [the] economy and infrastructure committee at the end of May.
“This ensures that those who have engaged in the process will have their opinions submitted and viewed by members as part of the final traffic regulation order making process.
“The decision on the making of the final 20mph order will be made at the economy and infrastructure committee on May 29.”
