Concerned communities are preparing a dossier about a key north road which they believe is “no longer fit for purpose”.
The B9006 is a busy tourist route, with motorists using it to access attractions such as Culloden Battlefield and Cawdor Castle alongside regular traffic.
But locals along the route, which runs from Inverness through Croy towards Ardersier, say they are concerned about the road becoming a rat run for drivers looking to beat the traffic on the A96 Inverness to Aberdeen road.
The road has also been the scene of a number of serious accidents in recent years, including in February this year when five firefighters were injured when two engines crashed off the road near Sunnyside.
And in March teenagers John Foggo from North Kessock and Georgia Gilham from Inverness were both killed in an accident between Inverness and Croy.
New figures from a Highland Council speed survey through the 40mph limit in Sunnyside found that around a third of drivers were speeding – while two cars were detected exceeding 61mph.
A special meeting was held on Monday evening, organised by Croy and Westhill community councils, to discuss issues around the road.
More than 50 members of the public turned out to discuss their concerns, while both Highland Council and the police were also represented.
The community councils are now collating a report based on views aired at the meeting in order which will then submitted to roads bosses at the council for their consideration.
Croy Community Council chairman Bruce Strachan said: “My personal view is that the basic problem is that the road is no longer fit for purpose.
“It’s a tourist route for people going to Culloden Battlefield, to Cawdor Castle and on to Fort George.
“It’s a school bus route, a normal bus route and everyone else using the road as well.”
Sunnyside resident James Laraway persuaded Highland Council to carry out a speed survey through the village, after five accidents within short distances of his home since he moved there around 18 months ago.
He feels that the figures would be even worse if the survey was carried out outwith the tourist season.
He called on greater police enforcement or even a permanent speed camera, saying he feared another serious accident.
He said: “It’s only a matter of time unfortunately.
“The number of near misses is frightening, it’s a daily occurrence.”
