Crash barrier bid rejected

Councillors today rejected calls from a local community for a crash barrier to be erected on a stretch of road in Speyside.

Dufftown and District Community Association had petitioned Moray Council for a barrier to be installed on a bend on the B9014 near Parkmore.

Community concerns over the potential for a serious accident have increased following the removal of trees at the location, exposing any vehicle which left the road to a downward slope towards the Keith-Dufftown railway line.

However, a report to today’s meeting of Moray Council said action had already been taken to improve the quality of advance warning signs on the approach to the bend and the council’s traffic engineers considered this to be adequate to mitigate any risk.

Additionally, councillors were told that the cost of erecting a barrier was likely to be in the region of £40,000, although other potential costs such as earthworks and land acquisition could push it much higher.

Following debate, the council voted 13-12 to dismiss the petition.

Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 95,510 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.

Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live.

Headquartered in  Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.