Campaigners call out pace of A83 improvements and 'jaw-dropping' consultancy costs
Campaigners and politicians have this week raised serious concerns about the pace of improvement work at the Rest and Be Thankful.
And the consultancy fees for designing the solution to the A83’s frequent closures have been described by one MSP as ‘jaw-dropping’.
The long-term solution chosen by the Scottish Government to deal with landslides that close this vital access route to Argyll is a 1.4km debris flow shelter, but the years taken to get to this point have caused increasing frustration among Argyll residents and businesses.
RABT Campaign chairman John Gurr, who lives in Mid Argyll, told the Advertiser: “We have not seen two-way access into Argyll at the Rest for the past four and a half years.
“When the A83 is open it is only one lane and is still regularly diverted onto the Old Military Road. This abnormal situation has become normalised, increasing cost and causing disruption to living and working in Argyll.”
Mr Gurr’s comments were echoed by Scottish Conservative Highlands and Islands MSP Tim Eagle who said: “These constant closures are causing misery for hauliers, motorists and isolated residents. They want radical solutions to tackle the growing landslide problem.”
Mr Eagle also highlighted new figures showing £19.5 million being spent on the project’s consultancy fees, calling the sum ‘jaw-dropping’.
He added: “Despite astronomical sums being spent on consultancy fees, it’s disgraceful that locals still don’t have a road that can be driven on when it rains.
“As we have seen over the winter, the problems on the Rest and Be Thankful are getting worse, not better. Therefore, questions must be asked about whether these consultancy fees are value for money.”
However, a Transport Scotland spokesperson this week justified the expense, telling the Advertiser that creating a solution to the closures caused by Glen Croe’s unstable hillside has been hugely challenging.
“The landslip-prone area requires complex solutions,” they said. “The total spent to date reflects the extensive appraisal and assessment needed to inform the detailed design work for both solutions and the extent of the work needed to address the complexity and challenges involved in completing the scheme.”
Transport Scotland also addressed Mr Gurr’s concerns about the length of time that has been taken to make progress with the project.
The spokesperson added: “We recognise that the timescales involved are frustrating for local residents, businesses and communities and we continue to work with them to ensure that Argyll and Bute remains open for business throughout the works.
“However, we also need to ensure we get the right solutions of the correct standard in the correct place.”
In the meantime, road-users will continue to face delays, as Mr Gurr explained.
“We do not have confidence that the right decisions have been made on the medium-term route, as the Old Military Road will be the main road into Argyll, under convoy, well into the 2030s until a new road is completed.
“We have been told that providing a two-way road in the medium term was not considered proportionate for a temporary diversion route.”
The Scottish Government published draft orders in December to secure land for an improved diversionary route along the Old Military Road and for the debris flow shelter.
“All representations, including objections, received following publication of the draft orders are currently under consideration and Transport Scotland is working hard to resolve these where possible,” the spokesperson said.
“Whilst there is always a desire to deliver proposed improvements to the trunk-road network in a timeous and efficient manner to provide the associated benefits to the affected communities and population, we are dutybound to properly follow the correct statutory planning process.”
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