Dingwall and Seaforth ward capital roads investment agreed – but warning from Highland Council official over deterioration of network and concerns about 'fair share' of cash
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Highland Council’s Dingwall and Seaforth area committee have approved the current capital programme for roads investment in the ward.
The programme will see major works this year on Tulloch Avenue, the Heights of Docharty, and Windsor Place in Conon Bridge as well as any others that can fit the budget.
Of those perhaps the most disruptive project for road users is Tulloch Avenue which is one of two main arteries from the centre of Dingwall to the south of the town.
Roads operations manager for Ross and Cromarty, Iain Moncrieff, said no final date had been chosen but he would seek to reduce any inconvenience..
There was a warning from council officials about the expected deterioration of the local network with a “corresponding risk to the travelling public.”
That is down to roads investment across the Highlands falling short of requirements for the "steady state" – not letting the roads get any worse or better than now.
Mr Moncrieff told the committee: “Deterioration of the overall network will occur with a corresponding risk to the travelling public. An increase in damage claims can also be expected, as the road defects develop.”
The routes that are most likely to be affected by the deterioration are those in rural areas which are used less but which are still vital arteries for many households.
A further concern was raised that since the Ross and Cromarty Committee broke up into four separate groups funding had been impacted.
Councillor Alister Mackinnon fears that Dingwall and Seaforth might not get its fair share because roads funding is handed out based on length not business of routes.
“The way funding is allocated is done based on road length and for Dingwall and Seaforth we have about eight per cent of that and that is unfair because our roads in our wards are really, really well used and a lot more than many of the others,” he said.
“I think that the allocation formula needs to be looked at so that we are getting the proper allocation.
“It is good to see Kinnairdie Brae being looked at but the reality as with a lot of our roads is that they were not built to take the big lorries going up to the saw mill and that is the reality of it not just in the ward but throughout the country.
“I am very glad to see that surface dressing is coming back in because that seals the road and hopefully prolongs the life of the road.”
Cllr Margaret Paterson said: “I just wonder at the bottom of Tulloch Avenue which is Craig Road as well – there have been a few near accidents because it is so bad that cars are trying to avoid the huge potholes.
“We may not be able to wait on that because it is the worst I have ever seen it.”
Mr Moncreiff said: “I would support the disaggregation of budgets so that I have a budget for my area or one budget per area as opposed to splitting it up the budget for Ross and Cromarty into four different areas. It seems more sensible to have one budget per committee area.”
