Dingwall 'first in line' for inspections after Highland Council festive lights gaffe in the Ross town last Christmas

DINGWALL will be the first port of call for contractors surveying and repairing cables across the High Street after the farce endured by locals attempting to hang festive lights last December.

Highland Council has determined that the Ross-shire market town will be top of the list after being promised that any work would be completed on time in 2018.

Residents of the town were livid last festive season when it emerged that safety checks had not been carried out on the fixings where the lights hang. Locals accused Highland Council of “reneging on a promise” to carry out the checks that summer. It meant string lights could not be put up over the High Street.

However, community council chairman Jack Shepherd is quite confident the matter is now in hand ahead of next festive season, with officers having already met contractors Fairhurst. He said: “Highland Council have had a positive initial meeting with Fairhurst, concerning the scope of the works and the costs.

“As discussed, the inspections shall commence with Dingwall due to the ongoing delays and problems we have had. The reports are expected to be completed by October but we are being told that with Dingwall being the first, it should come in much sooner. We have to remain positive that the cables are eventually getting work done. Our priority now, is to ensure that this work is completed for the Christmas lights switch on for 2019.”

A Highland Council spokeswoman said: “Following an incident in Inverness last year when a piece of masonry was dislodged on Academy Street as a result of high winds putting pressure on a street banner, the council is currently scoping specialist engineering advice for a survey of Dingwall High Street.”

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