Councillors focus on transport issues
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ISSUES with roads, bus services and air travel were among those highlighted by Caithness councillors at a meeting in Inverness.
The local members highlighted the issues as part of a response to the Scottish Government’s National Transport Strategy consultation (NTS2).
Commenting on the response, Councillor Raymond Bremner, who represents Wick and East Caithness, said: “We need to highlight the key issues we continue to face here in Caithness. The Scottish Government’s vision is to have 'an accessible transport system for Scotland' but it needs to reflect many areas of critical concern in Caithness.”
He highlighted the local bus service as being poor at connecting people. "The ability to deliver an effective, fit-for-purpose bus service relies on providers securing contracts Dounreay and local school services."
Councillor Bremner thinks that the bus services connecting communities with essential needs "seem to be further down the priority list" and there is a lack of "reliable vehicles".
"I have called on the council to look at in-house bus service provision, smaller newer buses providing a reliable service connecting rural communities, similar to those provided in island communities.”
“We also need to be serious about the vision for improvements at Berriedale. While the removal of the pinch point at the hairpin bend on the north brae is welcome, the bulk of issues are at the base of the south brae.
"When the road closes, the main artery to our county is cut off with a minimum 80-mile diversion to east Caithness – affecting our economy and critical service provision to our communities.”
Councillor Bremner also thinks that, though serious investment should go into upgrading rail services, "one of the most critical issues" centres around Wick John O'Groats Airport.
"The flights connecting us to Aberdeen and Edinburgh need to be protected and we need to support calls for the Wick to Edinburgh service to be considered as a public service obligation," he said. "Everything possible needs to be done to strengthen our transport connections with the rest of Scotland and beyond.”
