Extra £9 million into roads repairs would be 'a start' says Tain and Easter Ross councillor Fiona Robertson as Highland Council paves way to resolve pothole problems
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Ross-shire councillors are welcoming the prospect of Highland Council plans to increase roads spending by more than 50 per cent to deal with potholes.
Easter Ross councillors Fiona Robertson and Alasdair Rhind earlier this year voiced frustration at the lack of investment in roads.
Cllr Rhind branded the council's inaction "a sheer and utter disgrace” while others acknowledged public frustration over the crumbling network.
He said councillors were being left to look like fools because of the lack of action over a much-complained about issue.
Cllr Robertson said then that she felt voices were going unheard and lamented the almost unpassable state of some routes.
Now the local authority is seeking approval to ramp-up roads spending by around £9 million – and local members will have a major say in where the cash goes.
The proposals are part of a five-year financial plan due to be discussed at Thursday's full meeting of the council.
The report to the council meeting reveals that the backlog of work on the roads has risen to £194 million.
To maintain the so-called “steady state” – no better or no worse than they are now – is priced at just over £25 million.
So the local authority is looking to spend an extra £9 million on roads this year – that is on top of the £17.2 million already earmarked.
That brings the total investment on the network and in machinery, for more effective and longer-lasting repairs, to just over £26 million.
The additional funding will be allocated in two tranches.
Read more: PICTURES: Ross road repair progress flagged up by council
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The first £6.5 million will be added to the rolling programme of road improvements and repairs with new schemes to be identified by local area committees.
The second tranche of £2.5 million will go on plant and machinery to improve repairs by increasing the number of first time permanent repairs.
Cllr Robertson said it was victory for those calling for more investment and welcomed the increased cash and local decision making but warned it was not enough.
"We have been fighting hard to getting money, particularly in Easter Ross, to fill in the current potholes far less resurfacing work that needs to be done.
"So we welcome more money just to deal with the situation as it is, we welcome it even though it is probably not nearly enough to do all the work that is needed.
"But it certainly is a start and I know from the officers that they have deep concerns over the level of funding that they have just now with the expectation that we have, as councillors, for our roads to be brought up to a usable standards.
"That's a good way to describe it – often our roads are not usable or passable in Easter Ross and people have to find another route.
"That money will certainly help."
