Emergency funding to be sought for 'life-saving' repairs to Caithness roads
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Moves are under way to seek emergency funding for "life-saving" repairs to the county's road network as concerns continue to mount over the extent of potholes and other damage.
Campaigners from Caithness Roads Recovery have been told by local councillor Matthew Reiss that Highland Council, "as a matter of urgency", is putting together a bid under the Bellwin Scheme of Emergency Financial Assistance to Local Authorities.
The scheme is intended to provide special financial aid to local authorities "to safeguard life and property" and, if successful, emergency funding would be allocated through the Scottish Government.
Councillor Reiss said this week he hoped "much-needed cash" would be provided, but warned that there is already "a dauntingly long list of projects" and there wouldn't be enough money to fix all of them. He described one of the worst sections of local roadway as resembling a "Third World country track".
Local residents Iain Gregory and Helen Campbell launched Caithness Roads Recovery to highlight the condition of roads across Caithness and north-west Sutherland and to call for investment. They accept that Highland Council does not have the resources to fund the "urgent and longer-term repairs that are needed", and say they will continue to press for action at Scottish Government level.
Mr Gregory said: "We are very pleased to hear that it has now been recognised by Highland Council that Caithness faces an 'emergency' situation. We have maintained from the outset that this was the case, and that urgent action was called for.
"We are well aware that the council simply does not have the financial resources to deal with this crisis, and that seeking major additional funding from the Scottish Government is the only way forward."
Mr Gregory added: "While this is excellent news, we need to remember that we are only at the bid stage. It is now vital that the Scottish Government accept and acknowledge that very substantial funds must be granted to enable life-saving repairs to go ahead.
"Caithness Roads Recovery will continue to pursue a high-profile campaign until this matter is finally resolved."
The latest development came as work began to repair a badly potholed stretch of the A882 between Wick and Thurso.
Councillor Reiss, who represents Thurso and Northwest Caithness, said: “I am very hopeful the government will be able to provide some much-needed cash. My overriding concern is simply the sheer scale of the problem that Caithness and some other parts of Highland are trying to deal with.
“Even as the road crews have started on the A882 at Bilbster, I can see other sections of road in the county that are continuing to deteriorate. Trying to catch up and get on top of an ever-expanding list of repairs is truly daunting.
“Probably the worst bit of road I have ever come across is between Glengolly and Calder, about a half or three-quarter-mile section right outside some people’s driveways, and it’s a 10 or 15 miles per hour job. I don’t like the phrase ‘Third World country track’ but that is what it looks like.
“Iain Gregory was a fully trained police accident investigator so he understands extremely well the damage potholes can cause to suspension and tyres and wheels. He gets that stuff far better than most people.
Trying to catch up and get on top of an ever-expanding list of repairs is truly daunting.
“And some of the dangers are hidden. A tyre can hit a huge pothole, not actually burst or deflate, but the structure of the tyre can be really badly damaged. Then, a few weeks later, you’re down on the dual carriageway on the Black Isle and the tyre goes.
"These are problems that are very hard to quantify. All I know is that every time your tyre hits a pothole it gets weakened.
"But we have to be absolutely honest with the public. There is a dauntingly long list of projects already identified for repairs and there simply isn't the money to do all of them. And that's the honest truth."
Mrs Campbell said: “Since the start of our campaign, we have been working together with our local councillors and we fully appreciate the constraints they are under and the lack of resources they have been, and continue to be, faced with. To receive this good news that senior authority in Highland Council is seeking emergency funding is very encouraging and shows that ownership is finally being taken to resolve the issue.”
Mrs Campbell added: “There is money available from the Scottish Government, and we need that money to be reprioritised to repair and maintain our lifelines so that we can function properly, stay safe and protect lives.
“Our roads have had much less use over the past year and, with lockdown about to be eased, the issues are only going to escalate much more quickly and the risk of injury will only increase.
"As locals, we are familiar with the road conditions – visitors will not be. The north Highlands has become a world-class destination because of the North Coast 500. We need tourism, and at the moment our roads are far from being safe and inviting to anyone.”
