Renewed call for permanent solution to A83 landslides
Argyll and Bute councillors have joined forces with the area’s MSPs to demand a permanent solution to years of landslides on the A83 trunk road.
Council leader Aileen Morton, depute leader Gary Mulvaney, SNP group leader
Sandy Taylor and Argyll First Group leader Dougie Philand have signed an open letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Transport Secretary Michael Matheson calling for urgent action to improve the main trunk route between Argyll and central Scotland.
Also putting their signatures to the letter – which calls for a permanent solution to be in place by the end of 2023 – are MSPs Jackie Baillie, Michael Russell and Donald Cameron.
The letter was sparked by a major landslide on the road at Glen Croe, south-east of the Rest and Be Thankful, on the evening of Tuesday August 4 following heavy rain.
A diversion via the ‘Old Military Road’ on the opposite site of Glen Croe was opened to traffic on Saturday August 8, with vehicles travelling under convoy, but was closed again on Monday night because heavy rain was forecast.
Shadow Finance Secretary Donald Cameron said: ‘We need a firm commitment including a timeline and dates by which actions will be taken.
‘Ministers need to understand our communities must have confidence that their interests are being taken seriously. Enough is enough for the people of Argyll and Bute.’
The Scottish Government said almost £80 million had been spent dealing with years of landslides in the area, and trying to make the road more resilient, since 2007.
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: ‘We understand the frustration this latest incident will bring for communities and drivers.
‘Our operating company, BEAR Scotland, is working to assess, clear then reopen the road as quickly as possible, but can only operate when it is safe to do so. To date, more than £13million has been invested in landslide measures at the Rest and Be Thankful and the Old Military Road, which have helped keep the road open for an estimated 48 days when it would otherwise have closed.
‘This is part of the £79m invested in the wider maintenance and resilience of the A83 since 2007.
‘Four roadside catchpits have been completed, with a total capacity of almost 15,000 tonnes, and we are exploring options for further catchpits with more work due to start next month. We appreciate this will be scant consolation to those affected at this time and recognise a permanent solution is key, albeit challenging, both from an engineering and financial perspective in the current climate.'
The next taskforce meeting is being brought forward and will take place on August 27.
Read the full letter signed by councillors and MSPs