Community council turns to paid members in bid to get road issues addressed

Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry Community Council (SBRBA) have come to the end of the road as far as its relationship with Transport Scotland are concerned.

 

Chairperson of the local body, John Fotheringham, has now written to all Highland MSPs asking them to step in and "persuade" the transport agency and its contractor (BEAR Scotland) to deliver change for the community.

 

With the four yearly re-election of Community Councils coming up next month SBRBA CC, the largest by area in the Highlands, is at the end of tether.

 

"The community council spent 27 months of the current term in abeyance because it was felt we did not matter when we tried to negotiate on behalf of our community with public authorities," said Mr Fotheringham.

 

"Across the Highlands our trunk roads are a joke."

 

Some of the issues the council has tried to get resolved include:

 

• No dualling of the A9 or A96.

 

• No pedestrian crossings on the A86 trunk road through the villages.

 

• No alternative active travel crossing for pedestrians and cyclists at the Telford Bridge.

 

"You don’t even need me to get started on the A82," added Mr Fotheringham.

 

"Transport Scotland have done nothing for us and Spean Bridge is particular has suffered from the lack of investment,

 

"Simple requests like the removal of tons of detritus from the A82 pavement needed the combined weight of the Lochaber Times and Kate Forbes MSP to resolve, after we were ignored.

 

"A request to remove vegetation limiting visibility on the A82 was dealt with by a local landowner after BEAR Scotland promised but failed to deliver.

 

"We can save our Community Council both time and energy by giving complainants the BEAR Scotland Call Centre number and let them see the futility we have experienced over the last 16 years.

 

"Hopefully, however, our politicians who are paid to hold those employed by the taxpayer to account will have a discussion with the agency and their contractor to persuade them to deliver change for our community and our decision to terminate correspondence with them won’t be needed."

 

The Lochaber Times asked Transport Scotland representatives for a response but they had not replied by the time of going to print.