Toll campaigner fights speed fine

Robbie the Pict said he would appeal against the conviction

A veteran campaigner against tolls on the Skye Bridge has challenged the legality of the speed limit on the main motorway between Scotland and England.

Appearing at Annan District Court, Robbie the Pict claimed that the 70mph limit on the A74(M) was unlawful.

He was fined £100 and had three penalty points put on his licence for travelling at 85mph on the route in Dumfriesshire in November last year.

He said he would be appealing against the conviction to the High Court.

Delegated powers

The 60-year-old, from Dunvegan on Skye, said he would appeal on the basis of the road's legal status.

He argued that the motorway could not claim a 70mph limit unless it had been the subject of a Special Road Scheme - properly made and declared open by the Secretary of State.

He claimed the paperwork for this road was signed off by a roads engineer with no delegated powers.

Therefore, he told the court, the tarmac in the area was unregulated.

Procurator fiscal depute Maria Kicinski said that during the Crown case no evidence had been led that the road had not been officially opened for use.