Highland Council survey shows 'horrendous' number of speeding drivers in Castletown
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TRAFFIC survey carried out in Castletown over a week revealed "a horrendous" number of speeding drivers. The survey was undertaken by Highland Council and recorded the vehicles and their speeds at the three entrances to the village over a seven day period last month.
The figures show that 4893 drivers were doing 35 to 40mph – 30mph is the legal limit – while 1173 vehicles were travelling at 40 to 45 mph. Three hundred and forty-five motorists were recorded at higher speeds with one at 70 to 75 mph and another at 75 to 80mph.
The survey tallied the number of vehicles coming in and going out of the village from the Thurso, Dunnet and Wick entrances. The average speed recorded from the Wick entrance, near the local primary school, was 31.4mph coming into the village and going out the way was 32.7mph, members of the Castletown and District Community Council heard at their latest meeting.
The figures were highlighted by chairman, Billy Dunbar, who described the number of speeding motorists as "horrendous" and stressed that 2301 drivers were travelling at 35 to 40mph on the stretch of road near the school.
The statistics surprised the community councillors with John Calder describing them as "unbelievable"while Dave Bartlett said the findings underline why it is important to have a police presence at the community council meetings.
A total of 24,226 motorists were driving at 25 and 30mph while the number of vehicles recorded over the week was more than 57,000. A previous survey, carried out in November 2018, had just over 20,000 vehicles, the survey found.
Mr Dunbar argued that results reinforced the need for a 20mph speed limit for the whole village on safety grounds.
The community council backs measures being proposed by Highland Council to reduce the speed of vehicles at two areas on the Main Street in the village – one beside the play park and the other near the Dunnet road junction but members feel all of Castletown should be covered to try and deter speeding motorists.
A meeting was due to be held on the Main Street plans last month but was postponed. A new date has not yet been confirmed but is expected to be in August.
It is understood a decision will be made by the four Thurso and northwest Highland councillors. The community councillors would like the results of the survey to be considered at the meeting.
A Highland Council spokesperson stressed there would be an element of double counting in the survey as vehicles may have been recorded going into the village from one entrance and again going out on another one.
The spokesperson said the two surveys were done in different ways and were not a direct comparison although there was an increase in the volume of traffic. However, it was pointed out that the council looks at the mean or average speed and emphasised that at the Thurso and Dunnet entrances, it was 30mph or below. It was higher at the Wick entrance.
"Highland Council carried out traffic speed surveys from 9 - 17 June 2022 in the Castletown area. Average speeds in excess of 30mph were recorded on the B876 at the location south east of Castletown Primary School. The results of the survey have been passed to the Northern Safety Camera Partnership. Meanwhile the council is considering remedial actions to help reduce speeding on the B876. We will look at the data and consider what needs to be done," added the spokesperson.
