Road safety between Bridge of Orchy and Glencoe (A82): EIR release

Information requested

"'Are there any plans in place to enhance road safety between the Bridge of Orchy and Glencoe (A82) by means of speed awareness signage, either by yourselves, Police Scotland, the Scottish Government or the National Trust for Scotland?

This is following the substantial amount of road traffic collisions and fatal deaths occurring on this stretch of road. Moreover, this road is frequented by tourists, and it has come to my attention that there is only one speed sign between the Bridge of Orchy and Glencoe".

Response

As the information you have requested is 'environmental information' for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.

This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

You asked if there any plans in place to enhance road safety between the Bridge of Orchy and Glencoe (A82) by means of speed awareness signage, either by yourselves, Police Scotland, the Scottish Government or the National Trust for Scotland.

Transport Scotland does not have any plans to install speed awareness signage between the Bridge of Orchy and Glencoe (A82) because this location is subject to the National Speed Limit. There are no prescribed traffic signs to remind drivers of the National Speed Limit outwith sections of street lighting. Notwithstanding the above point, you may be interested to know that Transport Scotland is currently processing plans to promote a lower speed limit of 40mph with associated signage through Bridge of Orchy. It is intended that further details of this proposal, together with a plan showing the length of road involved, a statement of the Scottish Ministers’ reasons for proposing to make the Order, will be available to view at the offices of Transport Scotland, George House, 2nd Floor, 36 North Hanover Street, Glasgow, G1 2AD; Bridge of Orchy Post Office, Station Brae, Bridge of Orchy, PA36 4AD, and the Crianlarich Post Office, Station Road, Crianlarich, FK20 8QN, in the near future.

A copy of the Orders, plans and this notice will also be available to view the Transport Scotland website at: https://www.transport.gov.scot/road-orders/?roadorderregion=1291 when completed.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.