Caithness road repair work 'hanging in the balance' as new plea is made for government funding
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Highland Council is facing a race against time to ensure Caithness roads don't deteriorate at a faster rate than they can be fixed.
Councillor Matthew Reiss says the issue is the main topic raised by the public and he acknowledged: “I absolutely understand why people are so concerned.”
He is calling for the Scottish Government to come up with additional funding that will allow urgently needed repairs to proceed.
Councillor Reiss, who represents Thurso and Northwest Caithness, is awaiting a report from Tracey Urry, Highland Council's head of roads and transport, after she visited the county to see some of the worst of the potholes for herself.
“In my opinion what's needed now is simply for the Scottish Government to recognise the situation and give a tranche of money which will enable the council to use local contractors but if necessary to bring in contractors from the south," said Councillor Reiss, a former area police commander for Caithness, Sutherland and East Ross.
“From speaking to different people who are involved in the roads, it's hanging in the balance whether the roads slowly deteriorate faster than the council can repair them or whether, with the extra money with the doubling of the budget, we get on top of it and, over two or three years, slowly get the roads back into shape.
“My number one concern is safety and that is why I think we need to do anything we can to accelerate the programme – but the only way the programme can be further accelerated is with further cash. The council has doubled the budget so I think the government needs to recognise that.”
Ms Urry was given a whistle-stop tour last week accompanied by Councillor Reiss and representatives of local campaign group Caithness Roads Recovery. Starting from Spittal, they covered an estimated 75 to 80 miles taking in Westerdale, Harpsdale, Halkirk, the Calder area and the Glengolly to Reay road as well as some streets in Thurso including Ormlie Road, Heathfield Road and Provost Cormack Drive.
It came after Caithness Roads Recovery founders Iain Gregory and Helen Campbell had taken part in a meeting with Highland Council's chief executive Donna Manson and leader Margaret Davidson, with Councillor Reiss also present.
“I asked Tracey if she would like to come up and actually see the roads for herself," Councillor Reiss said. “My belief is that nothing beats seeing a problem on the ground.
"I asked Caithness Roads Recovery if they wanted to meet her as well because, having just met the chief executive, to then meet the head of roads and transport seemed a good thing.
"She is going to send me a report with her conclusions but she indicated informally that it had been very useful to actually see the damage to the roads and also to see the repairs that have been carried out already.”
Councillor Reiss highlighted the "huge amount" of work taking place on the roads.
“Will we be able to repair them faster than they deteriorate? We won't know the answer to that for a couple of years and I am deeply concerned by that,” he said.
Ms Urry confirmed yesterday that it had been helpful to see the condition of Caithness roads first-hand, and acknowledged the need for structural repairs. She said Caithness will soon see improvements arising from the additional investment the council has made, and that the local roads teams are working hard to deliver these improvements now that the weather is improving.
She said she was optimistic that increased levels of investment in roads would continue to be a priority for the council in future years.
At the meeting with Mrs Manson and Councillor Davidson, Caithness Roads Recovery gave a detailed presentation including photos with "then and now" comparisons, and claimed that Caithness had been "marginalised".
Mr Gregory said later: "We are well aware that the council simply does not have the £200 million required Highland-wide, or the 10 per cent of that needed for Caithness. We said that we are perfectly prepared to work with Highland Council, the Scottish Government and Westminster, our ultimate aim being to get the money needed which the council can then spend on fixing Caithness roads."
