The speed limit on the busy main route into a north-east port is to be cut.
Scottish ministers have decided to reduce the maximum on Fraserburgh’s Maconochie Road from 40mph to 30mph after months of campaigning by locals.
Their battle for a new speed limit was stepped-up after a crash in March left a motorcyclist with serious leg injuries.
Just days before Christmas 2013, a factory worker died after being struck by a passing car as he left a works party.
Last night, the decision to reduce the speed limit was welcomed by community leaders.
Councillor Charles Buchan said: “In the last few years we have seen a new shopping centre built, the Gray & Adams plant expanding to the seaward side of the road, new houses being built at Kirkton Gardens, and, of course, the opening of the new community centre and pool.
“All these factors have increased traffic flow, and complexity, and have produced many accidents.
“This is a good illustration of democracy in action.”
Members of the town’s community safety group had been concerned that children would be at risk if the speed limit on the road remained at its 40mph limit.
The town’s new swimming pool is just yards from Maconochie Road.
Ronnie McNab, the chairman of Fraserburgh Community Council and a member of the town’s safety group, said: “We’ve been waiting for this for a while.
“It’s brilliant it’s now here, because it’s something that’s really needed on that road to stop accidents.
“There’s already been a fatality there, and there’s the playing fields there as well that a lot of kids use, so there was a real concern there would be more if the speed limit continued to be 40mph.
“This will hopefully help cut the number of accidents.”