'Let's not repeat mistakes of the past' over Highland road repairs
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Highland Council was urged not to “repeat the mistakes of the past” by under-investing in roads as the local authority rubber stamped a further £9 million as part of its Highland Roads Recovery programme.
Funding for the keynote policy was ramped up in this year’s budget but still fell far short of the so-called steady state – the amount required to keep the roads no worse or no better than they are now.
The local authority has twice been referred to statutory agencies in recent weeks – the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman by the Caithness Roads Recovery campaign group and to the Scottish Road Works Commissioner by Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Maree Todd – over its performance dealing with roads maintenance.
The Environment and Infrastructure Committee agreed to the proposed distribution of an additional £9 million allocation for infrastructure improvements on north roads.
The distribution of cash had already largely been agreed at a meeting of the full council in June, and at an earlier meeting of the committee, with funding split between roads or structures and plant or machinery.
It means that £6.5 million will be spent on infrastructure including bridges and passing places over the next two financial years and £2.5 million on roads, plant and machinery. Any underspend will be carried forward into the next financial year.
Already, the council has seen the arrival of three out of five new JCB Pothole Pro plant vehicles and two further machines are on the way, currently on the production line – the total cost for all five is £1 million.
Chairwoman of the committee, Cllr Trish Robertson, said: “It is fantastic to see such excellent progress being made on the Highland Roads Recovery.
“Additional capital spend throughout the area must also be welcomed and we are thankful to local members for their work in identifying priorities.”
Derek Louden, SNP councillor for Tain and Easter Ross, welcomed the investment but urged colleagues and staff to recognise that the reason for many of the issues faced was underfunding.
“If we can get away from cold tar and move to something with a proven track record of lasting, we really want to move in that direction in the years ahead. So we welcome the investment,” he said.
“Every time I meet with the roads team from my own area I apologise to them – we haven’t given you the money to do the job and the condition of the roads now is the result of many years of under-investment.
“So we have to make sure that we don’t repeat that mistake in the years to come.”
