Douglas Row residents in Inverness want police and Highland Council action on speeding 'rat run' drivers
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Riverside residents in Inverness say they are being plagued by speeding drivers using their historic street as a beat-the-lights rat run.
Concerned residents of Douglas Row fear someone will be injured or worse if no action is taken to curb peak time speedsters they say ignore a 20mph limit there.
They have petitioned Crown and City Centre Community Council (CCCC), calling for action.
Douglas Row is a single lane one-way street leading from Glebe Street to Bank Street, a major city centre artery.
To beat traffic lights at neighbouring Chapel Street and Friar’s Lane, they say impatient drivers are darting along Douglas Row despite Access Only signs in Glebe Street.
Iain Thompson and Emma Whyte have written on behalf of 23 residents to the community council pointing out that Douglas Row has narrow or non-existent pavements for most of its length, so many people who “wander” down it assume it is a pedestrian area.
It is also a popular cycle route.
The letter says: “We include in our number families with young children and adults with mobility issues and share a concern that this is going to result in harm coming to resident or non-resident pedestrians or cyclists.
“We hope that prompt action will prevent needless injury or worse.”
The residents want to work with the police and local authority “to ensure Douglas Row is safe for all.”
They are calling for clearer and earlier Access Only signs at Glebe Street; reducing the speed limit to under 20mph and traffic calming measures such as speed bumps.
As work continues on a new hotel at the site of the former Glebe Street swimming pool the letter says they believe its creation will only make “an already significant problem very much worse.”
“Whilst we acknowledge that during the construction phase there has been little if any abuse of Douglas Row by construction traffic, we are very concerned about potential traffic issues once the hotel is opened,” it adds.
“We wonder if now would be an opportune time to consider a more meaningful change to the local road layout to prevent hotel traffic using Douglas Row and further discourage existing and future abuses from access.”
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “The council is aware of a number of points raised by residents of Douglas Row concerning traffic matters on the street.
“Council officers and Police Scotland are liaising so that they may be able to provide a response and have offered to meet with the residents should they find that helpful to discuss any concerns.
“The enforcement of road traffic offences is and remains a matter for Police Scotland.”
