Caithness roads ‘in a truly dire condition’ and ‘deteriorating by the day’
Roads in Caithness are “deteriorating by the day” and need an almost total rebuild, according to campaigner Iain Gregory.
The Caithness Roads Recovery (CRR) co-founder spoke out after 67 new photos of potholes in the Wick area were posted on the group’s Facebook page. An accompanying message from Mr Gregory stated: “We could make it 670, but you get the general idea.”
The images show crumbling road surfaces in numerous streets around the town and on the route to Staxigoe.
Mr Gregory said: “Sadly, some four years since CRR was formed, the road network across Caithness remains in a truly dire condition, and it is deteriorating by the day.
“We are far beyond the point where patching and repairing will suffice. We need major investment and an almost complete rebuild of the roads infrastructure.
“The album of photographs which we have posted represents the situation in Wick, which is truly dreadful, and we will shortly be publishing similar albums from locations county-wide.
“There is now national media interest in the situation in Caithness – and not only in relation to roads.
“CRR will continue to campaign and to lobby for action until things are put right. Caithness deserves nothing less.”
Mr Gregory served as a police officer for more than 30 years, retiring as area commander for Caithness and Sutherland. He founded CRR in February 2021 along with Helen Campbell, who stood down in October that year.
Mr Gregory’s comments came as it was confirmed that Caithness will spend more than £3 million on road maintenance and repairs in the coming financial year.
Members of the area committee agreed a prioritised programme of works for structural overlay and inlay works and surface-dressing schemes that will be funded out of the capital budget allocation for 2025/26.