A long running campaign by a local community to have the speed limit through their village reduced has finally succeeded.
Garmouth residents have been campaigning since 2011 to have the speed limit through their village reduced to 20mph and had thought they were on the verge of success last year when the local authority agreed to consider the idea.
However, in October members of the economic development and infrastructure committee threw out the plan because they considered the £6000 cost of new signage as being too high.
The local authority had conducted a survey on in the village and concluded that most drivers stuck to a 20mph limit in any event over the narrow unpaved streets.
At the time council leader Alan Wright commented that £6000 would be better spent on other projects.
However, the issue returned to the same committee on Tuesday where it was finally agreed that the speed limit would be imposed.
Speaking after the decision was taken local councillor Sean Morton said: “I am really pleased that the committee voted to approve the 20mph limit in Garmouth.
“For me, this is just the start. There are places all over my ward and around Moray where the speed limit is far too high and puts children’s lives at risk.”
Now Councillor Morton insists that other villages in his ward should receive the same treatment, adding: “I am still working hard to extend the Twenty’s Plenty rule to Kingston and I’m hopeful we can achieve that soon.
“I also believe it is wrong that areas around children’s play parks should have speed limits of more than 20mph.
“In my own ward, for example, the road past Mosstodloch play park is a huge concern for parents. That’s just one of the many areas where it seems sensible to have measures in place.
“There are blind spots and quite often drivers speed up as they are leaving the town to go onto the Garmouth Road. That could prove to be fatal one of these days – we have to take action.”