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Parts of north Highlands turning into 'motorhome city', councillor warns amid concerns over congestion on single-track roads


By John Davidson

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Highland Council portraits.
Highland Council portraits.

The north-west is turning into "motorhome city" even before the main tourist season begins, a Highland councillor has warned.

The staycation boom has brought a repeat of some of the problems experienced last year around the North Coast 500, with complaints of slow moving convoys causing long tailbacks on single-track roads.

There have also been concerns raised over indiscriminate parking and dirty camping.

One rally planned in August says: "This rally is for those who want to have an adventure, who crave something different, something memorable, but most importantly, it’s for those who want to have fun with like-minded car nuts who love the open road!"

But the lack of open road is driving many locals mad.

Cllr Hugh Morrison, who represents North, West and Central Sutherland – and runs the Smoo Cave Hotel at Durness – said many residents were now not driving between 9am and 6pm to avoid the chaos.

Mr Morrison called on the police to better manage the traffic on single-track roads, saying that otherwise frustration could cause a serious accident.

Police stepped up patrols in the north-west last week after receiving complaints from locals about the behaviour of some drivers completing the popular tourist trail.

Over three days, 57 vehicles were stopped and 27 offences discovered – ranging from dangerous driving, speeding in built-up and rural areas and insurance or MOT issues. One vehicle was also found to be carrying a dangerous load.

Among those stopped was a 58-year-old man who was clocked doing 145mph along the A838 at Ardmore. He was reported to the fiscal.

"The big problem is the tailbacks of traffic behind slow moving campervans and motorhomes," said Mr Morrison, who has spoken to officers about the issues. "The police need to better regulate that rather than sitting in one place and clocking people. It is about education not charging drivers, except for the most serious offences.

"On Tuesday there were more campervans and motorhomes in Durness than I have ever seen – and its not the main season! It is motorhome city.

"There are single-track roads for 14 miles west of Durness and 18 miles east. There are often tailbacks of 15 cars in one direction and 15 in the opposite and they can't even get passed at a passing place.

"Many locals are now not travelling after 9am and before 6pm because of the congestion. But not everybody can do that. It leads to frustration and dangerous overtaking and I worry that there will be a serious accident unless the situation is better managed by the police.

"Highland Council has done all it can possibly do – with the new rangers only just starting, as well as improved parking, toilets and waste officer etc.

"It is no good the police just concentrating on the centre of the village, the main problems are on the roads either side. More targeted patrols are needed and getting the message over by education. There also has to be an onus on the campervan and motorhome drivers to be better acquainted with the rules of single-track driving."


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