Welcome for 20mph limit in Rosemarkie
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A Ross-shire village that has been campaigning for lower speed limits for more than two decades has finally seen its efforts bear fruit.
20mph speed limit signs have finally been erected in Rosemarkie as part of a wider pan-Highland rollout.
The Scottish Gvernment and Scottish Green Party Shared Policy Programme’ published in 2021 includes the commitment that all appropriate roads in built up areas will have a limit of 20mph by 2025.
This National Strategy for 20mph speed limits aims to expand 20mph speed limits across Scotland and ensure all appropriate roads in built-up areas have a safer speed limit of 20mph by 2025.
The strategy seeks to introduce a consistency for 20mph speed limits across the country, simplifying speed limits for drivers.
Campaigners also cite statistics showing the greater likelihood of a pedestrian surviving a collision at a lower speed.
Black Isle councillor Sarah Atkin shared a photo of a newly erected 20mph sign, stating: “Finally, Rosemarkie now has a 20mph zone.
“Well done to the community council.
“Local councillors were also happy to lobby hard to ensure the village was part of the Scottish Government Highland pilot.”
Fears that it would take the death of a schoolchild or elderly person for Highland Council to act on a community’s heartfelt plea for a 20mph speed limit had earlier been voiced.
After 20 years of frustration, Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council commissioned a film it hoped would persuade the local authority to impose the limit in Rosemarkie – in line with measures witnessed elsewhere.
The film highlighted the need for a speed restriction, the overwhelming local support for the meaure and “the repeated failure of the council to act”.
Campaigners in Rosemarkie had pointed out other Black Isle communities had the lower speed restriction despite the presence of narrow pavements and tricky junctions in the village. They warned it might take a fatality for action to be taken.
