School run routes should be priority for repairs, says Caithness campaigner
Caithness campaigner Iain Gregory has spoken out over the “truly dire” condition of roads used regularly for school transport in the county.
Canisbay and the Scarfskerry/Rattar area were highlighted as being among the worst examples.
Mr Gregory, co-founder of Caithness Roads Recovery (CRR), said: “We have recently received a number of contacts from members of the public expressing their dismay in relation to severely degraded roads in both the Canisbay and Scarfskerry areas, pointing out that children have to be conveyed to and from school on these routes.
“The concept of Safer Routes to School is, rightly, something which is regularly mentioned by politicians, but the word ‘safe’ can most certainly not be applied to either of these locations.
“I recently visited Canisbay and Rattar and I have to say that the situation is truly dire.
“We are aware that there have been a number of very welcome works carried out recently, with Bridge Street and George Street in Wick, along with Braal Road in Halkirk, being massively improved. But a vast amount remains to be done, and we believe that school run routes should be a priority.”
Separately, Mr Gregory said CRR had also had numerous reports of substandard conditions in the Calder/Glengolly area, as well as on the single-track road leading from the B876 Castletown/Wick road past Wester Olrig and Hoy.
He added: “All of these roads are vital local lifelines and all of them are used to transport children to and from school. The council and indeed the Scottish Government seem very keen on encouraging us all to choose ‘active travel’, but any travel at all in these locations borders on being extremely risky.”
Mr Gregory is aware of reports that some patching has been carried out in the Canisbay area in the past day or two.
