Road operator’s wide load concern
ROADS operator BEAR Scotland has told The Lochaber Times it flagged up its own concerns about wide loads being moved through Fort William at one of the busiest times of the year.
Asked to comment on local frustrations over the transport of giant dump trucks from Glensanda Quarry on the Morvern Peninsula, a BEAR Scotland spokesperson said: ‘We always encourage the transportation of particularly wide loads to be undertaken outside busy, weekday periods to minimise the disruption caused.
‘We raised specific concerns about these wide loads moving through Fort William at this time of the year. We’ve been alerted to a further planned large load movement this week (today, September 7) and more again next week.
‘As such, we’ve restated our advice to those involved about avoiding busy times given the impact, particularly on Fort William.’
The Scottish Parliament will hear the tales of traffic woes along the A82 and around Fort William following the lodging of a parliamentary question by Highland MSP David Stewart.
Mr Stewart will tell fellow MSPs and government ministers that roads not fit for the 21st century are definitely not suitable for the transport of abnormal wide loads, such as the current shipments of giant dump trucks.
‘Why convey these massive vehicles along roads that are frankly not fit for purpose of the 21 century in any case, never mind using them for the transportation of such large bulk loads?’ commented Mr Stewart.
‘Constituents advise me that some tailbacks include in excess of 300 vehicles and the local roads policing unit apparently has no say in the timings of these convoys which are being arranged from the Police Abnormal Loads Unit in Glenrothes.
‘Surely common sense needs to be applied here so I wait with interest to hear why this nonsensical situation has been allowed to arise.’