Buchan councillors to consider Mintlaw speeding petition

Buchan councillors will consider a petition aimed at putting a halt to speeding traffic in a north-east village next week.

A petition with 112 signatures was sent to Aberdeenshire Council by concerned Mintlaw residents.

It was set up to reduce the speed limit on the village’s South Street.

Worried parents and grandparents signed the petition as they “genuinely fear” for the safety of their children and grandchildren as they walk down the busy road.

Residents have asked the local authority to reduce the speed limit from 30mph down to 20mph saying it is “desperately” needed.

They say the volume of traffic has increased “considerably” over the years due to new housing developments in the area and people travelling to Aberdeen for work.

South Street is one of Mintlaw’s busiest roads as it joins the A952 leading to the A90.

The road is also home to the Mintlaw Chipper and Buchan Indoor Bowling Club.

Residents of South Street feel it is “not safe enough to walk and cycle” there.

The petition said: “We deserve better road safety.

“We want to walk and cycle on our streets without fearing speeding cars.

“The road is not built for the volume of traffic using it, especially when vehicles are parked on the road, causing an obstruction.”

Worried residents noted that lorries park on the road near the Esso garage and say it is an “accident waiting to happen”.

While South Street has a pelican crossing, locals say cars are often seen travelling “extremely fast”.

They even said that a car had gone through the red light while a crossing assistant was in the middle of the road helping school children.

They added: “People are scared to cross as they do not feel the traffic will stop on time.”

Through the petition, residents are asking for new speed signs and road markings to be installed while existing double yellow lines be extended.

Members of the Buchan area committee will discuss the matter on Tuesday.

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