‘Dangerous’ road action plan needed
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ANOTHER accident is waiting to happen near a Caithness village unless lower speed limits are introduced, according to local residents.
The warning comes after a cyclist was killed and another seriously hurt when they were involved in a collision with a car on the A99 road near Auckengill last week.
Elaine Dunne (30), from Leicester, was pronounced dead at the scene and her husband, Chris, was transported to hospital in Glasgow after suffering severe injuries on Wednesday.
Catherine Matheson (85), who has lived in Auckengill all her life, has seen a number of accidents on roads in the area.
She has been leading a campaign for a number of years to get the Highland Council to implement a 40 mph speed limit through the village.
She said the surrounding roads are dangerous and, unless action is taken soon, fears another fatality may occur as a result.
"The current speed limit through the village is 60 mph," she said. "This is ridiculous when you consider there is a road junction as well as a petrol station and a broch centre.
"There are many side roads in the area which are very dangerous for traffic trying to come on to the main route. The district is also one of the most dangerous parts of the Wick to John O’Groats road during the summer season, with ferry and bus traffic passing through.
"I wrote to John Thurso [MP] two years ago expressing our concerns about these roads and the need for speed limits. We received a letter back from the Highland Council saying that they would consider our views, but nothing has ever been done about it."
Mrs Matheson argued residents would like to see overtaking banned
in the area due to the width of the road.
She claimed overtaking has contributed to the majority of accidents which have taken place.
"The lack of maintenance to the verges has been a factor in overtaking becoming a hazard on these roads," she said.
"The grass has been allowed to overgrow which decreases the safety of overtaking. This has been complained about at many meetings of Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council.
"I’ve even heard that the road situation puts motorists off travelling on the stretch of the road and they tend to use the safer north road.
"Action needs to be taken quickly to stop tragic incidents in the future."
Dunnet and Canisbay Community Council chairman John Green said members have taken these views to the Highland Council and Northern Constabulary in the past.
But he said due to the feeling being so strong in the area they would happily review the issue.
"We asked the police about speed limits, but they don’t agree that there is a need for it," he explained.
"They based these decisions on the number of accidents which are reported, but not all accidents which take place need to be reported. In light of what was happened, we will try again and discuss the matter at our next meeting."
He added: "The death of the cyclist was an unusual circumstance and people rightly feel strongly about what has happened.
"It may be helpful to look at these issues to help prevent situations such as this in the future and take these concerns to the council and police."
No-one from the Highland Council was available as the Caithness Courier went to press last night.
