Working Towards Safer Streets In Inverness - 20mph speed limits

29th August 2017

The Highland Council is working with a national charity to promote safer streets in the city of Inverness.

Other towns in Highland including places in Thurso and wick are in preparation.

Living Streets - the UK charity for everyday walking - has secured 12 months funding from the Scottish Government to work in 4 communities across Scotland to support the introduction of 20mph speed limit areas.

Living Street Project Coordinator Barbara Allan said: "The project aims to work with local authorities, community organisations, residents and other interest groups to support the role everyone can play in introducing lower speed limits.

"The project will offer hands on support to local authorities and community organisations in developing, designing and introducing lower speed limit areas.

We would like people to get in touch with us via our survey to tell us what they think of the current 20mph area. Are you aware of it and how does it impact on you? The survey can be found at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/2L37DS8 "

The survey will have a two fold purpose - to get your views on the 20 mph area in Inverness and how safe these streets are to cycle and walk in, and produce valuable information to help us to look at how we promote the 20 mph area and the improvements we could make.

Provost of Inverness, Helen Carmichael said: "This is an important project which will help us improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in Inverness. We would like our city to be as a safe and pleasant a place as possible to move around, shop and work."

20mph Inverness City Centre - PLAN

https://www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/file/17516/city_centre_inverness

20 miles per hour speed limit programme

https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/20005/roads_and_pavements/87/road_safety/7

Working towards safer streets in Inverness

The Highland Council is working with a national charity to promote safer streets in the city of Inverness.

Living Streets - the UK charity for everyday walking – has secured 12 months funding from the Scottish Government to work in 4 communities across Scotland to support the introduction of 20mph speed limit areas.

Living Street Project Coordinator Barbara Allan said: "The project aims to work with local authorities, community organisations, residents and other interest groups to support the role everyone can play in introducing lower speed limits.

“The project will offer hands on support to local authorities and community organisations in developing, designing and introducing lower speed limit areas.

We would like people to get in touch with us via our survey to tell us what they think of the current 20mph area. Are you aware of it and how does it impact on you? The survey can be found at: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/2L37DS8 "

The survey will have a two fold purpose – to get your views on the 20 mph area in Inverness and how safe these streets are to cycle and walk in, and produce valuable information to help us to look at how we promote the 20 mph area and the improvements we could make.

Provost of Inverness, Helen Carmichael said: “This is an important project which will help us improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists in Inverness. We would like our city to be as a safe and pleasant a place as possible to move around, shop and work."

20mph Inverness City Centre - PLAN

https://www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/file/17516/city_centre_inverness

20 miles per hour speed limit programme

https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/20005/roads_and_pavements/87/road_safety/7



20 miles per hour speed limit programme

Legislation and guidance

The Local Authorities' Traffic Orders (Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 1999 (external link)

Good Practice Guide on 20mph Speed Restrictions 2016 (external link)

Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (external link)

The Road Safety Unit is responsible for preparing and implementing the 20mph speed limit programme in Highland. We have a budget of £50k per year until 2022/2033. Additional funds of £100k was approved for the financial year 2016/2017. 20 mph scheme costs already implemented show a cost range between £10k and £26k. Scheme locations with higher observed speeds will require speed reduction measures and this dramatically increases the scheme costs.

Report to the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee

Evaluation of potential scheme sites

We will review road traffic collision data as part of the evidence based process to make sure the limited funding available is directed to the most appropriate locations.

Programme

Schemes (Phase 2 - Implementation)

Muir of Ord plan (due to go live in conjunction with the new bridge opening)

Nairn plan (scheme due for completion March 2017 Report to Nairnshire Committee 7 December 2016)

Inverness city centre plan (in preparation)

Inverness Raigmore plan

Wimberley plan (in preparation)

Mount Pleasant - Thurso plan (in preparation)

Schemes (Phase 1 - Early Preparation)

Alness

Wick

Dingwall

Invergordon

Tain

Kingussie

Fort William

Maryburgh

Caol

Schemes implemented in the last 12 months

Bruce Gardens (Inverness) went live on 25 January 2017

Merkinch (Inverness) went live on 25 January 2017

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

14/10/2026 : Local Authority

Highland Council's Offices: Go Digital, Bring in Mobile Offices and Save Money?

The banks have closed branches across the Highlands and customers have adapted.  With Highland Council facing serious financial pressures, is it time to rethink permanent offices and take council services directly to the people who need them? There was a time when going to the bank meant visiting a branch.  

12/10/2026 : Local Authority

 
The Highland Council is ready for winter - are you?

Highland Council is urging community groups to ‘apply now’ for its Winter Resilience Programme if they want grit bins in their local communities.   The Highland Council’s winter service starts on Wednesday 14 October and the Council is ready to treat - according to its policy - the 6,787km of roads for which it has responsibility.  

10/10/2026 : Local Authority

France's Schools Are in Revolt. Is Scotland Any Better?

Class sizes, teacher shortages, school buildings and the pressure on teachers reveal a more complicated picture than politicians' headline figures suggest.   Protests over the state of schools in France have raised questions that parents in Scotland might recognise.  

6/10/2026 : Local Authority

When Tourists Take the Homes: Is Europe Losing Its Housing to Tourism?

Tens of thousands of people have been protesting across Spain over the country's housing crisis, with rapidly rising rents and the growing influence of tourism among their biggest concerns.   The protests came after the Spanish parliament rejected government measures intended to strengthen tenant protection and restrict some forms of short-term rental accommodation.  

5/10/2026 : Local Authority

Still time to return Latheron, Lybster and Clyth Community Council election ballots

Anyone eligible to vote in the contested Latheron, Lybster and Clyth Community Council election is reminded that their postal ballot papers need to be completed and returned in the pre-paid envelope provided by 12 noon on Thursday, 8 October 2026.   Candidates standing were invited to submit a statement to support their candidacy and these statements are provided in the envelopes mailed out along with the ballot papers to all eligible voters.  

2/10/2026 : Local Authority

 
Julie Calder wins easily for Lib Dems in East Caithnes bi-election

Dave BUCHANAN Independent 714 Julie CALDER Scottish Liberal Democrats Elected Stage 1 1,522 Charlotte GIBSON Scottish Conservative and Unionist 79 John GLEN Scottish National Party (SNP) 424 Iain RICHMOND Reform UK 283# No further preference 0 Remainder not transferred 0 Total 3,022.  

2/10/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council proceeds to procurement for a new electric Corran Ferry

The Highland Council has reached another significant milestone in the delivery of a replacement Corran Ferry, with the procurement for a new electric vessel.   Funded through a £58 million investment from the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, including £28 million from the Scottish Government for the new electric vessel, £20 million from the UK Government and £10 million from The Highland Council towards landside infrastructure, the project will deliver a modern replacement ferry service for one of Scotland's busiest single-vessel crossings.  

2/10/2026 : Local Authority

 
Wick and Thurso Jobs secured and bus services strengthened through D&E Coaches acquisition

Highland Council-owned D&E Coaches has confirmed the acquisition of Stagecoach’s Thurso and Wick bus operation securing local jobs.  This will protect vital services and strengthening public transport provision across the Highlands.  

30/9/2026 : Local Authority

Reforming Scotland’s Councils: Should We Test One Region Before Reorganising Them All?

Scotland is considering one of the biggest changes to local government for a generation.  The Scottish Government has proposed replacing the existing 32 councils with between six and ten regional authorities, alongside somewhere between 120 and 160 community authorities.  

30/9/2026 : Local Authority

Scottish Cities Alliance Investment Conference to showcase Highland opportunities

Inverness will welcome government representatives, investors, business leaders and economic development partners later this week as it hosts the Scottish Cities Alliance Autumn Investor Event.  A two-day programme designed to showcase investment opportunities across Inverness, the Highlands and Scotland's city regions.