Campaign group launched to address Forss traffic fears
Fears over the "alarming" level of accidents on a stretch of road in north-west Caithness have resulted in the launch of a campaign group in a bid to improve safety.
There are long-running concerns about the speed of some traffic on the Forss straight, part of the A836, and one local resident says she is "petrified" every time she pulls out of her driveway.
The road is used by motorists travelling to and from Dounreay and Vulcan, as well as vehicles associated with wind farms and timber extraction. Forss is also part of the North Coast 500 tourist route.
The newly formed Forss Campaign Group comprises Highland councillors Matthew Reiss and Struan Mackie, community councillors Ron Gunn, Thelma Mackenzie (both Thurso) and David Craig (Caithness West) and Caithness Roads Recovery's Iain Gregory.
Local resident Julie Minchin said: "I am petrified every time I pull into or out of my driveway due to the high speed of traffic on that road and all the overtaking that goes on right outside my house. I was first on the scene of an accident earlier this year and the scene was horrific."
Mrs Minchin also has concerns about the walk her son has to make from his school transport drop-off point.
"I cannot stress enough how scared I feel every day with my son having to walk up a grassy, wet, slippery ditch from the council houses to our bungalow, because I dare not let the child cross that dangerous road," she said.
Mrs Mackenzie said: "It is now evident that the Forss straight requires immediate speed restrictions for the safety of all. With increasing traffic, both locally and with visitors to the NC500, the safety and wellbeing of the local residents living beside this part of the A836 must be paramount.
"It is now time for the appropriate authorities to act."
A number of accidents, including fatalities, have been reported in the area over the years. The road extends through the village with a series of bends at each end.
Residents have called for traffic-calming measures, and in 2013 submitted a petition to have a 40 mph speed limit introduced. The village is currently subject to a 60 mph limit.
The campaigners point out that there are homes along the length of the Forss straight and children need to access school transport, while there is a "busy and hazardous" crossroads and "inadequate" pavement.
They have written to Highland Council, Transport Scotland, the Northern Safety Camera Partnership, Police Scotland, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) and senior management at Dounreay and Vulcan, as well as contacting Maree Todd, the MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross.
Councillor Reiss said: "I have spent about eight years trying to improve safety at this location after being handed a petition by our then MP, John Thurso.
"At long last it may now be possible to deploy a speed camera van at Forss to deter the very small thoughtless minority. CNC and Police Scotland cannot be present all the time so Councillor Mackie and myself hope some simple improvements will now be possible, such as double white lines or a lower speed limit."
Mr Gregory, who co-founded Caithness Roads Recovery earlier this year, is a retired police area commander and an experienced road accident investigator.
He said: "We have heard from people deeply concerned about road safety in Forss. I have carried out an assessment, and I have to say that the location presents a clear danger and action is vital.
"We need a reduced speed limit, double white lines, chevron boards at the bends, upgraded junction visibility, proper pavements and improved culverts, drainage, road surfacing and signage to bring the location up to modern standards."
Mr Gunn said: "This road has seen a steady increase in traffic due to the popularity of the NC500. At certain times of the day there are hundreds of commuters using the road and a long straight can be very inviting to any motorist.
"Unfortunately the statistics show that this part of the road is far from accident-free. For the benefit of local residents and all road users, we intend to try and make this stretch of the road a lot safer."
