A pedestrian crossing could soon be installed on a busy road where a schoolboy was knocked down.
The nine-year-old suffered a fractured skull after being hit by a car on Peterhead’s busy Longside Road.
The incident sparked calls for action to improve that stretch of the A950 Peterhead to Mintlaw road.
Now Aberdeeshire Council has confirmed that a tender is out to appoint a design consultant for a crossing.
Peterhead North and Rattray councillor Dianne Beagrie had taken up the fight for locals last year.
She said she was “delighted” that progress was being made on it, adding: “We have no timescale for the works but hopefully in the very near future we will see traffic calming measures installed.
“This is a very busy road and it’s not before time that something is being done about it.
“We have lots of children crossing this road for school and this will ensure they can safely cross the road.”
Michelle Geddes, whose home backs onto Longside Road, has welcomed moves to introduce improvements.
She said: “Although I am not entirely sure what the plans for the road are it is a start.
“It is great to see after all these years of phone calls and getting nowhere.
“I just wish this had happened sooner and hopefully it won’t be to long before they get started.
“It is definitely an improvement for all pedestrians and kids.
“It is a busy built up area so its the big thumbs up from me.”
The 47-year-old carer had previously warned lives could be lost on Longside Road if action was not taken.
She said: “It is a built-up area now. School kids have to cross the road to get to the primary school and the Peterhead Academy kids have to cross to get to the bus stops in the morning.
“The speed is just ridiculous. I have highlighted the speed of drivers to the police.
“Something needs to be done before somebody is killed.”