Community leaders call on Highland Council and Bear Scotland to end HGV diversion through Inverness residential area amid fears there could be an accident
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Community leaders are calling for an end to heavy goods vehicles being diverted through an Inverness residential neighbourhood amid fears there could be an accident.
Muirtown Community Council has been involved in a long-running complaint about lorries being diverted from the north-bound A82 along General Booth Road to Muirtown Bridge and Telford Street to rejoin the trunk road.
But trunk road operator Bear Scotland says the diversion is due to weight restrictions on Tomnahurich Swing Bridge, while Highland Council also says General Booth Road is suitable for HGVs.
The road serves the residential areas of Scorguie, Balnafettack, Kinmylies, Muirtown, Mile End and Craig Dunain, on the west side of the Caledonian Canal. There are also three schools along the road.
The community council wants the diversion sign for heavy goods vehicles to be removed and for them to use the designated trunk road route along Glenurquhart Road, Tomnahurich Street and Kenneth Street.
Chairman Bill Anderson said the issue had been raised previously with Highland Council and Bear Scotland, but the sign remains.
"No one has given us a satisfactory explanation," he said. "General Booth Road was never built to take heavy goods vehicles in the manner in which it is being used now.
"They are coming along there day and night. There are two primary schools and a secondary school along that road. "We are concerned about the possibility of a child being knocked down."
Former community council chairman Jim Kidd has also raised the issue on several occasions.
He said lorries should revert to using the designated route especially now work on the west link road, including a new bridge over the canal, had been completed.
He also pointed out safety measures, such as pedestrian crossings, had been put into place along Glenurquhart Road and Kenneth Street.
"A lot of money has been spent make it safe," he said.
"We don’t see why heavy goods vehicles should be cutting across General Booth Road.
"It is in a bad condition.
"Twice in the past two years, the council has repaired it."
A spokesman for Bear Scotland said HGVs were directed off the A82 and onto General Booth Road, the local distributor road, due to weight restrictions on Tomnahurich Swing Bridge.
"The route in operation was agreed with Scottish Canals, Highland Council and Transport Scotland to ensure the continued safe operation of the structure," he said.
A spokesman for Highland Council said when General Booth Road was constructed, it was done so as a distributor road.
"Due to this, the road is suitable to be used as an HGV diversion and as an occasional abnormal road route," he said.
"When an abnormal load is using this route it would normally take place outwith peak hours and school times therefore minimising any pedestrian safety issues.
"These loads will also have an escort vehicle and will be moving at a very slow speed. This helps to address any additional safety issues for both pedestrians and road users."
He said following discussions, Transport Scotland expressed a wish to see current HGV diversion maintained.
"Any deterioration on the road is a result of age rather than damage caused from road traffic and any road resurfacing work or maintenance is carried out and funded by the council as this road forms part of our road network," he added.
New pedestrian crossing in Glenurquhart Road
