Link road considered but no mention of Corran Narrows

A link road for Fort William is to be considered by Transport Scotland after its latest Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) was published last week - but there is no mention of the mention of the Corran Narrows.

Page 148 of the report states: ‘Integrated transport plan for Fort William to increase resilience and reliability on the trunk road to improve sustainable transport and enhance the sense of place in the local community. This could potentially include improvements online and/or a new link road to enable enhanced sustainable transport provision.’

Last Thursday’s announcement is being viewed as a significant step forward for Lochaber by its constituency MSP Kate Forbes who has been battling to improve matters since first elected in 2016.

Giving her reaction, Ms Forbes told the Lochaber Times: ‘I’ve always said that the key was getting Fort William and the A82 included in STPR2.’

Fort William and Ardnamurchan councillor, Andrew Baxter, called it a ‘major step forward’ that Transport Scotland had recognised that Fort William needs a link road to solve a major bottleneck on the West Coast.

‘For so long they’ve denied any responsibility to provide a solution and the money needed,’ said Mr Baxter. ‘I hope that the government will back this up with the cash.’

In a statement on the topic, Fort William Inverlochy and Torlundy Community Council said it would welcome improvements to the area’s trunk road network.

‘We believe the significant traffic delays that residents, businesses and visitors often experience here have earned Fort William its place in the STPR,’ said a community council spokesperson.

‘We think community councils will need to lobby and work with the authorities, including the Highland Council and Chamber of Commerce, to press for early improvements.’

The report was also mentioned at Monday night’s meeting of Kilmallie Community Council, where chairman John Hutchison said this particular mention - of a Fort William link road - in the report mainly concerned delays going into Fort William along the North Road.

‘Scope seems to have been left for making improvements online, on the existing route, or some other link route,’ added Mr Hutchhison. ‘But I don’t think you should take the link route to Caol from that statement.

‘I think link road - you have the Aberdeen West link route and that sort of road, so it could be other sections of the trunk road that are linked.

‘The important thing is that locally, at least, this problem is highlighted in the STPR, which is something people have been campaigning about for quite period of time.

‘So we need to fight to ensure it stays in the STPR - it is a period of consultation after all.’

The meeting agreed the council might wish to submit a response and opted to put the item on the agenda for the next community council meeting in February to allow people more in-depth examination of the report and what the response, if any, should be.

However, there is no mention of the Corran Narrows, just south along the A82 from Fort William, in the report and the much-debated possibility of a fixed link such as a bridge or tunnel to eventually replace the current ferry service.

Referencing the inclusion of a possible fixed link between Mull and the mainland in the report, Mr Baxter added: ‘If Mull can have a tunnel, what about Transport Scotland acknowledging the long term challenge of crossing the Corran Narrows?

‘We know a tunnel is an engineering possibility so why hasn’t that been recognised in this transport plan?’