Caithness roads are unacceptable, says Thurso wheelchair user
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A wheelchair user from Thurso has spoken out about the difficulties she has faced because of potholes and accused Highland Council of failing to consider communities north of Inverness.
Charlotte Murphy (28) described Caithness roads as "unacceptable, especially for those with limited capabilities".
She highlighted how "unsettling" it can be to cross damaged road surfaces in a wheelchair and she was sad to see the county "so disrespected".
She supports the work of campaign group Caithness Roads Recovery (CRR) in raising awareness and pressing for improvements.
Miss Murphy was born with cerebral palsy and has used a wheelchair since she was 11.
She was nine when she moved to Caithness and at that time "it felt idyllic". She said: "You felt like the community was seen and cared for. Sadly, 19 years later, I don’t believe the same can be said now."
Having passed her driving test as a teenager, last year Miss Murphy took delivery of her first fully accessible WAV (wheelchair accessible vehicle) – allowing her to get into and out of her car completely independently.
Miss Murphy blames potholes for causing the WAV ramp to break, as the switches in the mechanism had been "shaken to breaking point by the Caithness roads".
That was a few weeks ago and the fault has been fixed, she says, "but things shouldn’t get to that point in the first place".
Miss Murphy said: "To go across roads in Caithness in a wheelchair you not only need to be mindful of pavements but, because most junctions – where most lowered pavements are – are affected by the crater-wide holes in the road surface, it is metaphorically and literally unsettling to cross in a wheelchair, never mind the jarring sensations in a car.
"The state of the roads is a symptom of the systemic neglect of the area. It’s just one example of the failings of Highland Council to consider communities north of Inverness.
"As someone who loves where I live, I see here as my home, it makes me sad to see the area so disrespected."
Miss Murphy contacted CRR co-founder Iain Gregory as she wanted to talk about the issues she has encountered as a wheelchair user and WAV driver. At their latest meeting, Mr Gregory was joined by local Highland councillors Ron Gunn and Matthew Reiss.
Mr Gregory said: "From the outset CRR has said that the appalling state of the roads and pavements in Caithness represents a particular danger to wheelchair users, to people who utilise wheelchair accessible vehicles, and to all those who may have differing levels of mobility. We maintain that the current situation is totally unacceptable, and that disabled people, in particular, are being severely impacted.
"Charlotte's courage and her determination to speak up is highly commendable and I sincerely hope that this is noted and acted upon both in Inverness and in Edinburgh."
Highland Council has been invited to respond.
