Crumbling roads in Ross & Cromarty cause 'hole' lot of misery
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GROWING impatience over Ross-shire's "horrendous" pothole problem has sparked fresh demands from the public in the wake of a blunt admission from some councillors that they are ashamed over the lack of action.
North Kessock resident Leanna Cumming was amongst several readers to contact the Ross-shire Journal after a recent full council meeting at which some Easter Ross councillors admitted huge frustration – and shame – over the state of the road network.
Ms Cumming highlighted several spots in the Black Isle village where the road has deteriorated to the point where motorists are swerving to avoid them – and she is far from alone.
And despite reporting the problems on multiple occasions, no action or response has been forthcoming.
Potholes around Ferry Brae are "horrendous" and its proximity to well used public sites like a school, GP surgery and sports facilities mean a heightened risk of an accident involving cars or pedestrians, she said.
She said: "Obviously pipes were laid in the road and [the new tar] is now opening up. Cars are swerving to avoid the holes."
She had a near miss recently when a car moving to avoid the potholes wound up part way onto her side of the road.
She said: "The council haven't got back to me at all... and I've not seen anybody at the site."
Ms Cumming also worries about the knock-on affect for local lifesavers, and fears that RNLI volunteers responding to an emergency call-out might damage their vehicles while rushing to the village's lifeboat shed in the dark.
Knockbain Community Council covers North Kessock, and its chairman John Stott, has urged people to continue to report any potholes they spot.
He said Highland Council had been "fairly responsive" whenever he had reported matters and that some nearby potholes had been tackled.
He said: "In defence of the council they have been doing their best in very difficult conditions. The road crew cannot do a good repair job in the winter so they are often fighting a losing battle.
"I am led to believe there is a big pot of money to sort out the problem coming in the next few months."
Elsewhere on the Black Isle, reader Nigel Stewart got in touch from Fortrose to raise concerns over the state of the road out to Chanonry Point.
He said: "It would be interesting to know how much has been paid out in compensation for damage to tyres and suspension in the last year. With the likelihood of travel being opened up in a few weeks time, the condition of the roads can only further deteriorate with increasing cost to eventually repair.
"An example would be Ness Road that leads to Chanonry Point for viewing the dolphins which will shortly see an abundance of traffic. It is presently a disgrace especially as one turns onto the road and where the new care home has been built. I am sure the council can look forward to ever increasing damage claims as a result of the state of this road."
Another reader from Alness added: "The roads are in a dire state of disrepair and I’m sure I’m not the only individual tired of continually reporting the issue of potholes on the road. Eventually the truck comes out and some tar is slung in a hole only to see it reappear within a couple of weeks worse than ever.
"When will Highland Council see the bigger picture, take action and invest in our disintegrating road network to allow what every tax payer deserves – a safe road network."
Responding to Ms Cumming's concerns, a Highland Council spokesman said it was aware of the problem and hoped to carry out more extensive repairs during the warmer summer months.
He said: "The council is aware the area referred requires significant patching and surface dressing along the whole section down to the pier.
"We have previously carried out patching on the Ferry Brae section leading to the bowling green and the school, but there has been further deterioration over winter especially at the junction at Ferry Brae off the main street.
Temporary pothole repairs have been carried on the worst of the defects, and it is hoped that permanent patching can be programmed in during the summer . Due to the current spell of wintry weather the Highland Council’s roads team have been busy providing a daily gritting and where necessary winter ploughing service, but with better weather forecast the crews will be switching to concentrate their efforts on carrying out road repairs across all areas.
"We have nearly 7,000 kilometres of roads in the Highlands and investing in maintaining this critical network is always going to be challenging.The impact of the pandemic has delayed much of the work over the past year, and now the spell of severe weather is over, our focus can return to completing the programme of repairs and improvements."
Related news: Highland councillors clash over urgent road spend amid calls to fork out on tackling pothole crisis
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