Culloden crossing decision due today as Highland Council consider road changes in face of opposition from Balloch Community Council
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Highland councillors will decide today whether to approve changes to a busy Culloden road despite safety fears raised by a community council.
Highland Council wants to create two ghost junctions and a toucan crossing on Barn Church Road to ease access to Culloden Academy and a new housing estate.
But the proposed alterations, backed by planning officials, were referred to the local authority’s South Planning Applications Committee (SPAC) for further scrutiny after opposition from Balloch Community Council.
While accepting the need for a new junction, it has highlighted road safety and other concerns.
A report states: “Balloch Community Council objects to the proposed development as there is already an existing access on Keppoch Road that serves Culloden Academy.
“It has highlighted concerns about road safety on Barn Church Road, including the need for the speed limit to be reduced from 40mph to 30mph.”
The community council has also voiced concern over the number of trees to be removed from the site without compensatory planting and on the anticipated siting of parking and new buildings at Culloden Academy, which will be subject to a separate future planning application.
The community council has said it was previously advised that there was a desire to retain a wedge of greenery between the Culloden and Balloch communities.
The planning report recommends that councillors approve the proposal, concluding: “The principle of an access into the housing site in this location has already been established.
“The proposal raises no concern in terms of siting, and the information provided is sufficient to demonstrate there are no adverse impacts through the new road layout.”
It said that the technical design of the junctions and road layout would be resolved through Road Construction Consent (RCC), adding: “It is considered that the proposal will have no significantly detrimental impact on residential amenity and/or road safety.”
