Millions lost to Ross-shire road maintenance over past 15 years sparks demand for cash injection to pothole-strewn network as public anger mounts over impact

AN Easter Ross councillor is to press for an extra £2 million to be injected into the region's roads in the next financial year after admitting residents have "lost faith" in Highland Council.

Cromarty Firth ward councillor Maxine Smith is proposing a motion for the budget for Ross and Cromarty roads to be ramped up to help tackle a dire situation.

She is seeking support from Councillor Fiona Robertson, who chairs the Easter Ross area committee and has herself in the past expressed exasperation over the pothole problem on her patch.

"This is no reflection on the hard work of the road operatives or management in roads. They do their best and get it in the neck from councillors and the public. This lies at the door of councillors who need to vote to give roads much more revenue funding." - Cllr Maxine Smith

Cllr Smith said: "I'm aware other areas may need it too but that's up to them. I'd like us as two wards to write to the budget leader requesting this."

She estimates that in the past 15 years she has been a councillor, Ross and Cromarty has lost "at least £75m and at least halved their manpower". She said: "We have a team of about seven trying to do roads, pavements and gritting in the winter."

She said: "No wonder we can’t get our potholes filled in. People are quite rightly criticising the council again and again and social media has gotten them into frenzy mode. They have no faith in the council per se and none in us as their representatives. This has to stop. We need to address the roads issue before it’s too late."

She stressed: "This is no reflection on the hard work of the road operatives or management in roads. They do their best and get it in the neck from councillors and the public. This lies at the door of councillors who need to vote to give roads much more revenue funding."

Contacted for comment, Ross MSP Maree Todd, who lives in the Strathpeffer area and was brought up in Ullapool, said: "The pandemic has placed complex challenges on government at every level. The impact on staffing due to self-isolation and shielding throughout the last two years has put pressure on the likes of local authority roads teams. With that being said, the hard-working Highland Council team have delivered significant improvements to the road network in recent months.

“I’m aware, however, that there are still many patches of road that require repair and I share the concern of my constituents in Easter Ross who fear some roads are not safe or reliable.

“Whilst it is up to the discretion of the Highland Council how they spend their budget from central government and how they prioritise local needs, the local authority has a statutory obligation to maintain the road infrastructure in the region.

"There is a strong argument for the Highland Council to allocate additional funding to the local road network to enable improvements and prevent further deterioration, given the council ended last year with a £20 million surplus and banked over £61 million into their reserves. If we are to make long-term improvements to the road infrastructure, we need sustainable investments now.

“The Scottish Government’s support for local government has been demonstrated in the Scottish budget, where there is a commitment to an overall funding package of £12.5 billion to support local authorities in carrying out their vital public services, representing a total cash increase of £917.9 million.”

Highland Council said: "The capital programme was agreed at full council on the 9th December, and officers are seeking at the committee to agree a programme of works in line with the agreed budgets."

Let us know YOUR view. Do you have a story or a picture to share on this issue? How important is the Highland road network to you? Get involved. Email hector.mackenzie@hnmedia.co.uk

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