Potholes pose a danger
I HAVE written here on a number of occasions recently about the state of the roads across Argyll.
As you all know only too well, they are shockingly bad. Now, as we report this week, there are fears they could pose a deadly risk to the many cyclists who will compete in the Oban Sportive on Sunday April 22. No kidding.
The countless number of potholes are a real danger to all road users in the area and have been for weeks, if not months.
Argyll and Bute Council recently allocated an additional £5.5 million to its roads budget and BEAR Scotland announced a further £4 million for trunk roads. That is a welcome start but the work needs to be done urgently.
I travelled at the weekend between Oban and the central belt and the roads are scary in places. Indeed, there are stretches on the A85 where you are forced to slow to a crawl to avoid damaging your vehicle or bursting tyres.
The five miles or so of road from Tyndrum to Crianlarich are among the worst anywhere and there is a patch just north of Tyndrum that is almost impassable.
But those are just a couple of examples. The menace of the potholes is almost beyond description.
If the harsh reality of the threat to the Oban Sportive finally prompts some urgent action, it will not be before time.