Moray village's speeding issues to be addressed with Roseisle Traffic Group
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AN action group has been formed to give residents of Roseisle a voice in their fight to tackle speeding issues through the Moray village.
The Roseisle Traffic Group will provide a focus for residents who believe their lives are being put at risk by motorists.
A speed survey undertaken by Moray Council earlier this summer identified several instances of speeding in the village confirming what many people in the area have believed to be a major issue for years.
The survey, conducted on the C25E West, which is within a 30mph speed limit, showed that vehicles travelling towards the Roseisle Maltings averaged 37.9mph.
And vehicles travelling into Roseisle from the Maltings averaged a speed of nearly 36mph.
John Verth, a member of the newly-formed action group, said: "For many years, the excess speed of the traffic through the village has been of concern. A recent council survey confirmed the residents’ subjective assessment that a very high percentage of the traffic travelling both in and out of the 30mph section towards Kinloss was travelling at excessive speed.
"The results showed that 85 per cent of the traffic was travelling at speeds of up to 50mph when entering and also when leaving the village. Some speeds recorded were in the range of 57 - 101mph.
"These speeds are not acceptable in a 30mph area. Police Scotland are carrying out enhanced speed enforcement patrols in Roseisle and any speeding offences will be dealt with robustly."
Th council's survey did not confirm any issues on the Burghead to Newtown road but the group say they will challenge this with a view to having the survey repeated.
"Noise is also an issue," Mr Verth added. "Many heavy goods vehicles pass through the village both through the day and throughout the night, predominantly serving Roseisle Maltings and distillery and the adjacent waste treatment plant.
"Some cars and motorcycles have been altered specifically to make excessive noise and to backfire. This noise and the noise caused by the excess speed is not just an annoyance but is have a detrimental effect on the mental health of the residents."
Moray MP Douglas Ross met with residents to discuss the issue during his recent surgery tour. He has agreed to support them in their efforts to make the area safer.
He said: "While speed survey equipment and traffic cameras slowed traffic for a while, there was no long-term effect and there have been serious accidents in the last few months where cars have left the road, and in one case even ended up in a garden.
"Residents feel that there is confusion due to the different speed limits in and around the village which doesn’t deter motorists from driving faster than they should, and with new housing developments meaning Roseisle is becoming a more built-up area, they want to see a 30mph limit introduced.
"This has been a long running issue and I can understand why local people are so concerned about this. That is why I am seeking to convene another meeting with local people and the relevant stakeholders to see if we can progress this issue."
