UPDATE: A862 Dingwall - Ardullie road closure postponed as outcry prompts Scottish Water rethink
THE proposed three-month closure of a key Ross-shire road has been postponed following a public outcry.
Scottish Water wanted to close a section of the A862 between Ardullie and Dingwall to lay new pipeline deemed essential to the network’s sustainability.
But it emerged this afternoon that following a public meeting called by Kiltearn Community Council, Scottish Water now plans to defer the work that is needed until Spring 2026.
The news was greeted with delight by Cromarty Firth ward councillor John Edmondson who also paid tribute to Kiltearn Community Council chairman John McHardy for pushing the issue.
A spokesman for Scottish Water said: “We attended a meeting organised by Kiltearn Community Council and listened to the concerns that residents and local businesses had, both about the work to renew the local water network and its timing.
“As a result of this, we are proposing to defer the work that is needed until Spring 2026. This will give our team opportunity to look again at the options to minimise and mitigate disruption; and to engage further with roads authorities, Network Rail and local communities.
“In the meantime, we would like to apologise for the concerns that the proposed road closure has cause locally. The work we need to carry out is essential, but our aim is always to minimise and mitigate the disruption that this involves as far as we reasonably can.
“We will share more information when it becomes available.”
Many residents and road users worried about the impact such a closure would have on the area with a likely knock-on impact on the back road between Dingwall and Evanton.
The prospect of a 20-week, £2.9m programme of works on the Cromarty Bridge by BEAR Scotland on the A9 starting next month prompted a further outcry last night. The Cromarty Bridge was, ironically, part of a lengthy diversion route proposed by Scottish Water for its A862 work.
Councillor John Edmondson, who had called for a rethink, said today: “I’m delighted at the news and I’m hoping that Scottish Water will take time to reflect on the routes they can utilise to realise the much-needed infrastructure without closing the road for so long.
“The community council is to be congratulated for working very hard on this. The three-month closure would have had a pretty serious impact. I hope that during this process Scottish Water will engage with the community. Everybody knows the infrastructure needs to be changed. Scottish Water didn’t investigate alternative ways of doing it. That became really evident at the public meeting.”
Kiltearn Community Council chairman John McHardy said: “The residents and businesses which would have been adversely affected by the intended works will be relieved that Scottish Water have paused to reconsider.
“The community council is grateful to Scottish Water for listening to local voices and hopes that a solution can be found to improving the supplies to the four properties, without the disruption which would have resulted from following the route originally planned.
“We also appreciate the work undertaken by our local Highland councillors who have assisted in raising concerns with Scottish Water and the roads authorities.
“Looking to the future, the community council has offered to assist Scottish Water in further consultation on their intended plans.”
Local MSP Maree Todd said: ““I was pleased to receive an update from Scottish Water this afternoon in response to my letter, confirming that they have decided to defer the planned works on the A862 between Ardullie and Dingwall. The project, which involves essential upgrades to the local water network, will now be postponed until Spring 2026.
“This decision will come as very welcome news to many of my constituents, who were understandably concerned about the timing of the works and the overlap with maintenance on the Cromarty Firth Bridge.”
