Lengthy trunk road closures

Sir, According to a report that appeared in your edition of April 27, a traffic accident occurred on the A83 near Lochgair at 2.30pm on Saturday April 21.

It is further reported that the A83 between Lochgilphead and Inveraray was closed to traffic ‘while investigations were carried out’ – before re-opening ‘in the early hours of Sunday April 22’.

Even if the early hours is taken to mean, say, 1am on the Sunday morning, this suggests the principal route for access to and egress from Mid Argyll and Kintyre – as well as the ferries – was arbitrarily closed by police for some 12-and-ahalf hours.

I would like Police Scotland to explain why this was necessary.

I well remember a retired police officer telling me that, in the days prior to Argyll entering the stranglehold of Strathclyde Police, the local superintendent would want to know the reason why if the scene of an accident was not reopened to traffic within about 30 minutes.

Police Scotland should understand that (a) the usual excuse (lengthy closures are necessary in order to gather information thought useful in prevention of similar accidents in the future) will not wash; (b) perusal of any half-decent road map will reveal to Police Scotland that, unlike the central belt, Argyll does not have a multiplicity of short alternative routes suitable for use as diversions; and (c) their one-size-fits-all approach is a negation of management.

If Police Scotland is so keen to glean evidence relative to a traffic accident they might also look at actual or potential accidents resulting from these enormous diversions – fatigued drivers, drivers unfamiliar with diverted routes, dif- ficulties finding overnight accommodation, insufficient fuel, appointments missed and so on and so on. Eric Box, Lochgilphead.