Spittal speeding issue needs resolved or 'someone is going to be killed', says local man
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A Caithness resident talked about his battle to slow down speeding traffic going through the hamlet of Spittal.
Eddie Rowan has previously tackled Highland Council about the state of the roads at Threipland Place where he lives with his wife June but his main concerns are with speeding vehicles he says regularly flout the 50mph restriction on the A9 road at Spittal.
"We seem to be forgotten here. There's nothing here to warn drivers there are pedestrians walking in the vicinity and children crossing the road. There's a bend on the road with two exits from houses and they come round so fast that someone is going to be killed," said Mr Rowan.
"We want a sign that flashes and warns them about speed and also tells them to beware of pedestrians. The pavement where we walked our dogs on or to visit neighbours has been fenced off now so we've no choice but to walk along the grass verge by the side of the A9. Trucks speed past and can blow you off your feet."
Mr Rowan has driven buses and other heavy vehicles for a number of years and says he can usually tell when motorists drive over the speed limit. When we visited him, he pointed out numerous cars, trucks and motorbikes that he believed were doing more than 50mph as they made their way through Spittal. The road has a blind summit, a dangerous corner that is chevroned and a bus stop is situated there that has no warning lights near it.
"With all the vehicles that pass here over the day, I would say that 75 per cent of them are doing more than 50mph. You can tell by the noise they make as they approach."
Mrs Rowan says she sometimes illuminates the 50mph sign at night with her torch when she's walking their dog, Medard. "It can be really terrifying the speed that they go. I think it should be 40 or even 30mph along this part," she said.
The couple think that more warnings are needed to advise drivers that people live in Spittal and may also be exiting Threipland Place in their own vehicles onto the main road.
BEAR Scotland is the organisation that deals with this area of the A9 and the streets at Threipland Place, which the couple say are poorly maintained, are the responsibility of Highland Council. Mr Rowan said: "We asked for road drains to be cleaned out and for them to sweep the street. Potholes, well what can we say?"
Wick and East Caithness councillor Jan McEwan said she was familiar with all Mr Rowan's issues and has reported his concerns to Highland Council and the local transport committee. "We will be having a meeting shortly and I will bring the issues up once again," she added.
Speaking for campaign group Caithness Roads Recovery (CRR), Mr Iain Gregory, a former police area commander, said: "Clearly, if residents have concerns in relation to vehicle speeds in the area, then the way forward is for them to firstly discuss the matter with local elected councillors, who could then assist them by speaking with Bear Scotland, and perhaps arranging a meeting with a representative of Police Scotland.
"It may be that a speed survey could be carried out in order to analyse the average speed of traffic passing through the village. This would then be of value in assessing any measures which might be required."
He went on to say: "As regards issues with potholes and blocked drains in the village, we would encourage the residents to contact CRR, and we will raise this situation with the Highland Council – sadly, this is, as we know, a recurring complaint throughout the county."
A Highland Council spokesperson said that additional signage for the A9 "is a matter which will need to be raised with BEAR North West" and that Police Scotland is responsible for speed enforcement and concerns on the matter should be directed to it. The council said that general street maintenance issues can be reported online at www.highland.gov.uk/report or by telephone on 01349 886601.
A BEAR spokesperson said: “There are no current plans in place to change existing signage at Spittal and there is no history of injury accidents. However, if any concerned residents would like to get in touch directly, we would be pleased to discuss the matter in further detail.”
On a footnote, Mr Rowan added: "If the police come up here with their camera they'd make a bloody fortune. They're coming in here at between 55 and 70mph – some maybe even faster. Boy racers and trucks are the worst. Adults, children or pets are going to be killed – it's only a matter of time."
