Scotland can’t afford another A83 saga
Open letter to Argyll and Bute MSP Jenni Minto
I attended your recent presentation at Lochgilphead, which asked for comments.
Well, the first that I would say is that at long last you may have a solution which, when it is eventually completed, could ensure better resilience than we have experienced for quite some time. For which all users will be grateful.
However, while your handout dwells somewhat on plans to improve the top-end car park, and tidy up the glen after all the machines finally have left, it casts no useful light on why the process of arriving here has been so protracted and expensive.
The money which must have been spent over this period on traffic control alone might have built a useful length of new road. This is an important issue, because landslip hazards are only going to multiply, and Scotland can’t afford repeat performances of this long-winded saga.
It is far from clear why the catchpit approach was persisted on for so long, despite its repeated failure to do much good. Possibly Transport Scotland wanted to look determined, though the result has been that they have simply appeared obstinate.
Anyway, good luck with the galleries.
It isn’t yet clear how debris will be removed from behind them, but maybe it will just be left until everything levels up. I also expect that the construction period will be protracted; site access constraints will see to that.
So it’s to be hoped that the Old Military Road can cope.
Meanwhile it has been fortunate that at the Rest a nearby diversionary route is at hand. In other cases that may not be so.
Arthur Blue, South Queensferry.
(Until recently I was a Mid Argyll resident
and a regular user of the A83.)
A hypocritical view
Councillor Alastair Redman speaks with a forked tongue!
At the vote in the Argyll and Bute Council chambers a few weeks ago, he voted for the 10 per cent council tax rise. Now, in last week’s Argyllshire Advertiser he says: “The council tax freeze is a great victory for democracy.”
Snake in the grass comes to mind.
Karl Edwards, Argyll.
A daffodil appeal thanks
We want to thank everyone for taking part in Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal and supporting us across the month of March.
Whether it was volunteering a few hours of your time, donating, fundraising for the charity, or wearing our iconic daffodil pin badge, all will help us deliver expert end of life care to those people with any illness they are likely to die from and those close to them. Our wonderful volunteer collectors were out and about in their big yellow hats to encourage people to wear the charity’s daffodil pin and donate.
The Great Daffodil Appeal raises much needed funds for Marie Curie Nurses and healthcare professionals to provide expert support and hospice care in the comfort of home and at our two Scottish hospices, and funds the charity’s free support line and webchat.
Marie Curie is celebrating our 75th year, which wouldn’t be possible without the continued generosity and kindness from our supporters like you, so thank you.
Ashley Thomson, head of fundraising, Marie Curie Scotland.