Speed vehicles come into Castletown from Thurso is 'absolutely ridiculous' says resident
THE speed vehicles come into Castletown from Thurso is "absolutely ridiculous", according to a resident.
Colin Marshall, who lives near Battery Road on the outskirts of the village, claimed about 80 per cent of the traffic is speeding, including cars, lorries and buses.
He highlighted the problem at last week's meeting of the Castletown and District Community Council and maintained many drivers ignore the countdown signs.
Mr Marshall, who has lived in Castletown for 18 months, said people have complained about the speeding vehicles but nothing is done about it.
He has gone out to try and slow the traffic down but has been told by the police he should not do so. "I have been warned that I should not be doing that but nothing is done about the speeding," he said at Thursday night's meeting.
Mr Marshall pointed out that he purchased a dash cam for his car and sent the footage to the police but was informed it did not indicate what speed the vehicles were doing.

"About 80 per cent of the traffic, including buses and lorries are speeding coming into Castletown from Thurso. It is absolutely ridiculous," he said.
The issue has long concerned the community council. Chairman, Billy Dunbar, said Highland Council has approved measures on the Main Street to try and reduce speeding in that area but stressed speeding vehicles are a problem in other parts of the village as well. Efforts to get 20mph limits and other measures have not been successful, he stated.
A recent survey undertaken by the local authority revealed some of the highest speeds were recorded coming into the village from the Wick road, near the Castletown primary school.
"Even if the police could do a day checking vehicles speeds every couple of months that could make a difference but we never get a police presence here at the meetings to discuss things. It is so frustrating," said Mr Dunbar.
He suggested raising the speeding problems with Thurso and northwest Caithness Highland councillor, Ron Gunn, who chairs the Caithness area committee.
Meanwhile, members unanimously agreed not to withdraw their objection to a plan to create four bothies along from the Battery Road.
The proposal from Cruive Ltd is also opposed by several nearby residents who are concerned the access road is unsuitable and too narrow for such a development.
But the company hopes the problems can be resolved with some of the bothies ready by the spring of next year.
The bothies and office/service building would be constructed on land 600 metres north-east of Battery Road in Castletown, just off the North Coast 500 route.
It was pointed out additional signs are being proposed to try and ease the access issues but members felt that would not solve the problems.