Plans to lower speed limit through Cunningsburgh would reduce ‘road danger’
A PROPOSAL to reduce the speed limit through Cunningsburgh from 50mph to 40mph has been welcomed by a local councillor.
Shetland South member Alex Armitage said “it doesn’t seem right that 50mph traffic is permitted so close to pedestrians, without any kind of barrier or distancing”.
He said dropping the speed to 40mph, with automatic vehicle activated signs deployed to remind drivers of the limit, would result in a “significant reduction in road danger in Cunningsburgh”.
But Armitage said he would like to see the 40mph limit extended northwards to the Aithsetter junction, as pedestrians frequently use the roadside up to this point – especially given the reopening of the café.
There have been long-held concerns about road safety on the A970 through the village, especially around children walking or cycling to school.
There is a temporary 20mph by the school during pick-up and drop-off times, but Armitage described this as “inadequate”.
Shetland Islands Council is now consulting on the idea of dropping the speed limit through Cunningsburgh from 50mph to 40mph.
This would run between just south of the hall and the south exit of the village.
Armitage said he has “persistently campaigned” for a reduction in the limit for years, as has ward colleague Robbie McGregor.
He said that although it may be annoying to have to slow down more on the route, “travelling at 40mph instead of 50mph for the proposed 1.5 miles would only add 27 seconds to my journey time”.
“It would also significantly reduce the risk of me perpetrating a serious injury or death to a person in Cunningsburgh,” Armitage said.
“As a paediatrician working in the emergency department I have seen plenty of bairns seriously injured by vehicle drivers, and it is always avoidable and tragic – for children, families and the drivers themselves.”
Anyone wishing to object to the proposal is asked to write to Shetland Islands Council by 20 August.
Objectors are encouraged to write to:
Neil Grant
Director of development & infrastructure services
Proper Officer for the Shetland Islands Council
Gremista
Lerwick
ZE1 0PX
The roads department can also be contacted via roads@shetland.gov.uk.
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