We are no longer ‘that bit up there’: UK media coverage highlights neglect of Caithness roads
UK-wide media interest in the potholed roads of Caithness has “pushed the plight of this neglected county into the national arena”, according to campaigner Iain Gregory.
He was speaking in the midst of widespread coverage by the BBC and some national newspapers about the crumbling state of many roads in the county and the costs being incurred through damage to vehicles.
Mr Gregory has been highlighting the issues for more than three years as a co-founder of Caithness Roads Recovery (CRR). He has featured prominently in the BBC coverage along with Debbie Aitkenhead, of DA Driving School, and Megyn Todd, manager of the Care at Home service run by Pulteneytown People’s Project, who have spoken about the impact on local people’s daily lives.
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 said: “When Helen and I started CRR, we honestly thought that if we highlighted the issues blighting the lives, lifelines and livelihoods of the people of Caithness then Highland Council, and indeed the Scottish Government, would respond and swift action would be taken.
“There was never any intention to run CRR for more than a few months at most. But within days we realised that there was a huge groundswell of public interest – and anger – and that neither the Highland Council nor the Scottish Government intended, or had the capacity, to act.
“It was obvious that Caithness was basically on its own, and I was very much less than happy with some of the reactions we got from the council and from the Scottish Government. Indeed, in the early days, the expression ‘that bit up there’ – Caithness being indicated with an airy wave of the hand – was used and, from that moment, battle commenced.
“It was quite clear that the key to everything was publicity, and the CRR Facebook page swiftly became a focal point, with in one recent 28-day period over half a million page visits.
“But the other powerhouse has been the coverage in Highland News and Media, via the John O’Groat Journal and Caithness Courier. I do have a pretty fair knowledge of how the press works, and local papers are the key to everything.
“The latest – incredible – news blitz started because the BBC and many other media outlets monitor CRR Facebook every day, and because they avidly study local papers.
“Last week we filmed with the BBC in Wick, with tremendous contributions being made by Megyn Todd and Debbie Aitkenhead, who had the courage to go on camera and speak up. The resulting BBC coverage has finally pushed CRR, and the plight of this neglected county, into the national arena.
“Late on Wednesday night the producer contacted me from Glasgow to say ‘the website video was the most watched video today on the BBC website (UK and internationally)’.
“The story featured on BBC Reporting Scotland at lunchtime on Wednesday, on Radio Scotland all day, and it is intended to show it in the evening edition of Reporting Scotland as well as putting it out UK-wide.
“The Times newspaper contacted CRR, running a very full story on Thursday, and the Daily Record also interviewed me for a feature.
“Numerous media outlets are picking up the story, and it is safe to say that the interest is huge across Scotland and indeed the UK.”
Mr Gregory added: “As a result of the work of CRR, the actions of Megyn and Debbie in speaking up, the massive support and contributions from the people of Caithness who have shared thousands of pictures and stories with us, and the amazing coverage from the Groat and Courier, Caithness is now very firmly on the map, and is no longer ‘that bit up there’.
Plans to invest up to £60 million in Highland roads and infrastructure were approved by Highland Council in March.
Council leader Raymond Bremner said at the time: “Roads are a clear priority for the communities across the Highlands and this has been a theme in feedback from public engagement.
“With a local road network stretching some 6600km, it is essential that continued funding at previous levels is maintained.”
Mr Gregory has estimated the cost of repairing the roads network in Caithness alone at “in excess of £20 million”. Speaking at the end of last year, he said: “There is no doubt that Highland Council simply does not have the funding to deal with this crisis, and CRR calls upon the Scottish Government to act now before tragedy strikes.”
In an April Fool’s Day prank this year, motorists arriving in Caithness on the A9 at the Ord were greeted by a sign saying “Welcome to the Moon” and warning them to watch out for “craters” ahead.
Mr Gregory said at the time: “CRR has received quite a few messages about the appearance of this sign. I have to say that we think it is a bit unfair on the moon, the surface of which – despite having been peppered by the impact of countless meteorites for aeons – appears to be considerably more vehicle-friendly than the roads and tracks of rural Caithness.”
