Residents’ views are being ignored

Sir,

Regarding BEAR Scotland’s ill-conceived plans for improvements to the A828 during September, I agreed that the road needed some maintenance and improvement, but its suggestion of 10 full daytime closures was just ridiculous.

The road is of crucial importance to all communities between Connel and Ballachulish and any closure or restriction would have had significant impact.

This road was closed over several nights during May and June, Minimal effort was made by BEAR Scotland to highlight this work so I wrote to complain.

I was assured that BEAR Scotland ‘listen to the views of locals’ and ‘take every effort to minimise disruption’ but now, with more extensive (and significantly more disruptive) works planned, it slipped out on an announcement on its website on a Friday afternoon, giving 10 days’ notice of the impending works, and had the cheek to say that it was ‘consulting extensively’ with locals, business owners and road owners.

What a load of nonsense. There was no meaningful consultation. BEAR Scotland made its plans with no intention of even considering the impact on local communities or on what local people, local businesses or general road users actually thought.

Despite emails to BEAR Scotland, I’ve had no personal response to my comments or suggestions. This attitude from an agency of government is totally unacceptable.

Local communities deserve better. Ewan Mathieson, Appin.