Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch has called for urgent safety action at the A9 roundabout at Tore, with the need for a pedestrian bridge now being inescapable.

Mr Thompson said: “This has been a growing issue for several years in the local community. There are five roads converging at the roundabout and the A9 approaching from the south is dual carriageway.

“There are bus stops on either side of this busy carriageway, and yet no safe provision for adults (including slower moving disabled folk) or school children to cross.

“There are also a worrying number of car accidents at this roundabout which seem to be related to excessive speed. An issue in its own right but further proof of the risk to pedestrians.

“Transport Scotland have conducted a Vulnerable Road Users Review at the site, and this has made a number of recommendations on changes to the roundabout.

“The report highlights the risk to pedestrians and cyclists from crossing the A9. I quote from the conclusions: “The A9 severs the community of Tore. Traffic on that route presents a significant risk of fatal or serious injury to pedestrians and cyclists if they choose to cross the A9, due to the speed and types of vehicles involved”

“The Report also states that: ‘perhaps the best example of this (the severance of the community) is the fact that local children currently do not walk small distances to school, instead they travel by mini-bus, taxi and car – clearly not a “sustainable” travel option’.

“So I am calling on Transport Scotland to act quickly on all of the recommendations in the report, and also to go further and undertake an urgent study with the aim of building pedestrian bridges across the key road sections identified in the report.”

Note:

The text of Dave’s letter to Mr Middleton, Chief Executive of Transport Scotland is below:

Dear Mr Middleton

I am very concerned about the safety issues at the Tore Roundabout on the A9.

Following your own Vulnerable Road Users Review at Tore, I have noted that Transport Scotland have acknowledged the following:

“The A9 severs the community of Tore. Traffic on that route presents a significant risk of fatal or serious injury to pedestrians and cyclists if they choose to cross the A9, due to the speed and types of vehicles involved”

The Report also states that “perhaps the best example of this (the severance of the community) is the fact that local children currently do not walk small distances to school, instead they travel by mini-bus, taxi and car – clearly not a “sustainable” travel option”.

It is because of this that I am calling on Transport Scotland to act quickly on all of the recommendations in the report, and also to go further and undertake an urgent study with the aim of building pedestrian bridges across the key road sections identified in the report.

Your comments would be most appreciated.

I look forward to hearing from you

Yours sincerely