Conon housing development bid by Tulloch Homes gets go-ahead despite local concerns over road safety
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Councillors have reluctantly agreed to a new housing development in Conon Bridge despite significant concerns about road safety at an accident hotspot.
The north planning applications committee approved Tulloch Homes plans for 27 residential units on land south-west of Broombank on the wider Conon Braes development.
Dingwall and Seaforth Councillors Margaret Paterson and Alister Mackinnon unsatisfied when they sought a condition to be placed on the proposals to not begin before “serious safe alterations” to the turn off onto the A835 from Conon.
Cllr Paterson said: “Conon Bridge Community Council have put in an objection and I think you have taken most of it onboard, especially the broadband speed – everyone knows you lose signal going up the Leanaig.
“I think you have taken onboard the flood risk issue but the community council also has another serious concern and two other local community councils – Ferintosh and Maryburgh – have the same concern and that is the junction.
“My major concern is the junction halfway up the Leanaig that is the A835 where it turns off to the B9163 and I will be asking for a condition for serious safe alterations before any development starts.
“There has been so many accidents there and a number of years ago a gentleman was killed there and both myself and Cllr Mackinnon have family who were in serious accidents there.”
Officers said it would have been “unreasonable” to insist on a condition when the plans essentially complied with guidance despite “sharing the concerns” of the members suggesting further representation to Transport Scotland calling for action.
Cllr Paterson said: “I hear what you say but I am not happy but we have had so many meetings with Transport Scotland and then they go away and they do nothing so what good would another letter do.
“So we have to do something a lot stronger, so are we going to wait until someone is killed there or until there is a major crash? We have asked them to do small things like putting it to 40 mph or lights like at Munlochy Junction.”
Cllr Mackinnon said: “Hardly a week goes by when there is not a crash there, thankfully on Monday it was just a very minor collision but I am not going to stand here and let someone else die or else be seriously injured before something is done.
“The problem we have here is that Transport Scotland actually think that the junction is okay because there are not enough incidents there – that is unacceptable as far as I am concerned and it is unacceptable as far as the folk in Conon Bridge are concerned.
“There is also the junction from Alcaig – the pedestrian that was killed there was trying to get home and he was killed there. Since I have come to stay in Conon Bridge there have been three fatalities there.”
The committee resolved to write to Transport Scotland requesting an urgent meeting and to stress the urgency of work that is needed.
