Councillors support speed reduction plan for Ellon bypass
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Local councillors have agreed to put the wheels in motion to implement a permanent speed reduction on an Ellon bypass.
Members of the Formartine area committee heard of the impact of a temporary speed restriction to allow them to discuss the potential of making it permanent.
The stretch of A948 between Yonderton Cottage and the roundabout beside the Park and Ride was reduced from 60mph to 50mph in April 2020 following numerous issues with speeding.
Road engineer Anne Buchan said: "The A948 has been a big concern for a number of years because of the number of accidents on it, and alleged speeding.
"We have carried out a number of traffic surveys over the years, but these did not show a speeding problem - the 85th percentile which we go by for an intervention was never exceeded.
"After a lot of consideration we decided to put in a temporary 50 miles per hour speed limit."
She went on to explain that it was always intended that the speed limit on this stretch of road would be reduced when the new cemetery was in place.
Speed surveys carried out since the implementation of the reduced speed limit have unfortunately found little change in the number of speeding drivers in the area, however upon further study of the data collected it was noted that the top speeds being done by speeding drivers has reduced.
Commenting, councillor Isobel Davidson said: "I'm really pleased to see in the data that there has been a reduction."
Fellow councillor Gillian Owen said: "I recognise that it was built to be a bypass, and therefore to be a faster road, but I don't believe there should be the amount of speed that there is."
It was recognised by both Ms Buchan and local councillors that there are various factors impacting the number of vehicles on the road and driving conditions which needed to be considered alongside the studies' data.
It was also noted that there may have been some recording issues which are being investigated.
Councillor Louise McAllister said: "I think most people are use to it being 50 now, although there will always be some exceptions.
"I use that road quite a lot and anecdotally I would say that it is definitely calmer.
"I think it's a really practical thing to do, I haven't heard anyone object to [the speed on the road being limited to 50mph] but I have heard lots of people in favour of it."
Councillor Anouk Kloppert said: "I welcome the 50mph signs becoming permanent for traffic safety reasons, air quality and our carbon reduction ambitions for our town."
