Support is growing for a reduced speed limit on a busy north-east road to be made permanent.
South Deeside Road has a 30mph maximum in place at Maryculter, close to the Old Mill Inn.
The restriction is due to be lifted once Aberdeen Bypass works in the area are completed, returning it to 60mph.
However locals say the temporary measure has had a positive impact on the safety of the road and there are calls for transport bosses to permanently reduce the limit on the route, to 30 or 40mph.
North Kincardine Rural Community Council has led a push for Aberdeenshire Council to fix a lower limit once construction has been completed.
Chairman Henry Irvine-Fortescue said: “What we found is that the temporary speed limit because of the AWPR has helped traffic slow down as on the dangerous corner.
“There are a number of issues on the road, there’s a bridge, the T-junction, you have also got a short visibility line from the Old Mill Inn coming out towards the junction. There’s also poor visibility going towards Aberdeen as well as traffic coming down from the Netherley Road.
“There have been a number of accidents on the junction over the years.
“It seemed to us it would be a good idea to investigate a more permanent 40mph limit which would be helpful towards road safety.
“I have now met with a roads officer and explained our concerns and he seemed to understand the problems.”
Councillor Ian Mollison, North Kincardine ward, encouraged the authority’s roads officers to consider the proposals.
He said: “I can understand why the temporary speed limit is in place. It remains to be seen whether it will still be required once the AWPR is completed and the road network settles down. It would be helpful if council roads officers were to take a fresh look.”
Mr Mollison’s fellow North Kincardine representative Colin Pike said he would be in favour of a lower limit.
He said: “There’s ever more volumes of traffic on the South Deeside Road, which will continue after the AWPR work is finished, I think it would be a good idea to have reduced speeds in place.”
Brian Strachan, roads manager for Kincardine and Mearns, said, “Aberdeenshire Council receive many requests for speed limit reviews and the need to carry out a traffic speed survey at this particular location will be considered and, if appropriate, prioritised and added to the list of sites awaiting review.
“Any surveys carried out are then assessed using national guidelines and council policies but at the current time the Roads Service can confirm that there are no plans to change the speed limit at this location.”
The community council could not be reached for comment.