'Why was Storm Gerrit emergency not declared sooner?' asks Highland MSP
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There are questions to answer over the handling of the Highlands' response to Storm Gerrit, a local MSP believes.
Fergus Ewing, who represents the Inverness and Nairn constituency, has praised the efforts of "all involved" in responding to the impact of the storm, which wrought havoc on the region's transport and power infrastructure.
Major arterial roads like the A82 and A9 were blocked by fallen trees, heavy snows, flash flooding, and landslides, while more than 10,500 homes without power in communities dotted across the region.
Rail services, ferries and flights were also all affected by the storm force winds.
The impact later sparked the declaration of an emergency after hundreds of vehicles became stranded in deep snow on the A9 in the area around the Drumochter Pass.
And while Mr Ewing was full of praise for the "great effort" of those responding to the emergency, he has questioned why an emergency was not declared sooner given the impact of the storm was already being felt hours earlier.
He said: "A great effort yesterday by all involved. However questions are being asked locally and I have asked [minister for transport] Fiona Hyslop to get answers.
"The ones I am hearing are 'Why were snow gates not closed earlier?'; 'Why was an emergency not declared earlier?'; 'Is there now over reliance on police from the central belt?'.
"I shall follow up these questions, which I have put by text to Fiona Hyslop this morning in letter form to seek answers."
