Action notes - Ward Forum - West Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh (Ward 10)

Meeting held on 14th November 2009 at 1100 in Contin Village Hall

Chair: Cllr Audrey Sinclair

Present: Cllr Biz Campbell; Cllr Richard Greene; Cllr Audrey Sinclair; Cllr Jean Urquhart; Alasdair MacLeod (Applecross CC); Catherine Finlayson (Contin CC); Laurence Gunner (Contin CC); Sid Fraser (Contin CC); Sue Tarr (Garve & District CC);Sandy MacKenzie (Lochbroom CC); Helen Murchieson (Lochcarron CC); David Reid (Marybank, Scatwell & Strathconon CC); Norman Cameron (Shieldaig CC); Alan Reid (Strathpeffer CC); Alistair MacLean (Torridon & Kinlochewe CC) Katherine MacKenzie (Torridon & Kinlochewe CC); Wilma Beaton (Torridon & Kinlochewe CC); Anne MacDonald (Torridon & Kinlochewe CC); plus one member of the Public.

Officials in attendance: Insp. John Chisholm (Northern Constabulary); Robbie Bain (THC, Ward Manager); Jim Tolmie (THC, Area Roads & Community Works Manager, Ross, Skye & Lochaber); Ian Hay (THC, Community Works Manager, Dingwall); Mark Crowe (THC, Community Works Manager, Portree).

Introduction

Audrey Sinclair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Police Issues

Isp Chisholm, noted that the Police have worked closely with the Council over the years. In the context of the Council’s Winter Maintenance programme, decisions on closing snow gates are taken by the police in close liaison with the Council or Transerv, such decisions are not taken lightly but are done on the basis of an assessment of road safety. The Police also take a keen interest in criminals using the road network. House-breakers had been active in the Black Isle in the previous week and it was suspected that the same team had been involved in house-breaking in Wester Ross in the past. The suspects were currently in custody.

Locally, the clear-up rate for reported crimes was higher than in other areas and there had been a reduction across all categories of crime. Insp Chisholm noted, however, that there was no room for complacency. If the public were aware of problems in any area, they were encouraged to highlight the problems, so that the Police could deploy to nip problems in the bud.

In Wester Ross Sgt Mike Anderson was in charge in Ullapool, Sgt Susan Hunter in Kyle and Joanne Mackinnon in Lochcarron.

There was an expectation that Police officers would attend CCs on a regular basis.

Questions and Discussion included:

Police Numbers. The promised 1000 extra Police officers for Scotland had been delivered. In the Northern Constabulary area, Police numbers were in the 820-830 range, which was an all-time high. The Force were determined to keep numbers above 800.
Road Closures in winter, who has ultimate authority? The Police take the decision in terms of road safety, in practice the local police act in liaison with the snowplough driver.
Speeding through Contin, which it was noted was the only 30 mph section between Dover and Ullapool. This was a historic problem and the Police had mounted frequent speed checks over the years, including fairly recently. It was felt that it would be useful to monitor speeds through Contin to determine the extent of the problem, and it was agreed that the Police would ask Transerv and Transport Scotland to action this.
Extreme disappointment was expressed that Transerv were not present at the Forum.
The recent meeting in Dornie to discuss road safety on the A87 was cited as a good example of Transerv, Transport Scotland and The Council meeting together with the local CCs to listen to the community’s concerns.
Insp Chisholm stressed the three ‘E’s of road safety – Engineering, Education and Enforcement, all of which have a part to play in making for safe roads.

Roads Winter Maintenance

Ian Hay and Mark Crowe gave a presentation on the Council’s role and approach to winter maintenance of the road network.

The Council was responsible for all non-trunk roads, 6711 km in Highland, of which 1100 km was in Ross & Cromarty and 760 km in Skye & Lochalsh. All TECs staff have a role in the winter programme. The cost in R&C is £0.8m and in S&L £0.55m.

The Council’s winter roads policy is based on the requirements of the Road (Scotland) Act 1984 and determines four levels of priority:

Priority 1 Main Routes

Priority 2 Other Strategic Routes (inc bus routes)

Priority 3 Main urban Streets and school bus routes

Priority 4 All other routes – as resource permit

Most local authorities do not treat Priority 4 routes, so have no commitment beyond Priority 3. Most of the roads serving individual settlements in Wester Ross are Priority 4 routes.

The winter period is set as 1st October to 30th April. The target is to complete Priority 1 routes by 08.30, Priority 2/3 by 09.00 and the high spots and known trouble spots on Priority 4 routes by 09.30.

The routes covered by individual gritters/snowploughs are calculated on the basis of time and distance and drivers can’t vary from this without a knock-on effect further on.

There has been a reduction in the number of vehicles available, but this has been in-part off-set by greater efficiency of the newer vehicles.

It was noted that salt is not some form of “magic pixie dust”. It needs to dissolve into the ice and be worked in by traffic before it is effective and this can take 30 mins or more.

Questions and discussions included:

It was felt that the loss of one vehicle for winter 08/09 and another for winter 09/10 had led to the situation where some of the Priority 3 routes were not gritted till quite late in the morning (11.00 in Achintraid this week). Ian Hay explained that he had to do the best possible with a finite amount of money. The vehicle available to cover Achintraid had to do the road out to Achnasheen first, but while the drivers were conscious of the need to get ahead of the school bus if possible, they had to drive according to the conditions. It was pointed out that there were 3 doctors living in Achintraid who might need to get out if there was an emergency.
The view was expressed that it was essential for there to be an early and dependable service on the Torridon to Diabaig road. Ian Hay understood the community’s concern. The vehicle and driver that had previously covered Diabaig had done a good job but had been withdrawn. However this is partly offset by the transfer of a 4x4 vehicle from Ullapool, so a better vehicle is available for Diabaig. It is hoped that the vehicle will get to Diabaig in a reasonable time, but it will be later than previously.
The comparison between Shiel Bridge to Glenelg (Priority 1) and Torridon to Diabaig (Priority 3), led to a discussion on the political input to roads policy decisions. It was suggested that staff numbers available had dropped significantly over the years and that the Roads Budget had suffered more than other budgets.

Members responded by outlining the budget pressures that the Council faced and the worsening situation expected over the next three years and warning that very tough choices would be required. Furthermore the increase in cost pressures on the TECs budget was highlighted, with fuel and tar costs both being linked to the price of oil and having risen dramatically over the last few years.

There was a feeling that The Council could do more to look at the balance of priorities across Services, that the economic cost of failing to keep roads open could be calculated and that roads were an underlying social requirement that surpassed most others.
The question of safe access by emergency services was raised. If the Police request that a gritter or plough precede and emergency vehicle at night, then the Council will provide this if at all possible. The Police noted, that they had access to a helicopter which would be used if roads were difficult.
The question of weekend and early morning treatment for the Achiltibuie to Ullapool road was raised. Ian Hay responded that there were now two men employed from the Achiltibuie depot, so the vehicle will start from there in the morning, going out to Drumrunie, so there should be a better service than last year.
It was asked if gritter drivers had the freedom to do what they felt was most needed and the answer was that they were expected to follow the pre-set priorities and route unless they were given alternative instructions or their radio link was not working.
There was a brief discussion on alternatives to salt for use on the roads. Ethylene glycol is used on the Kessock Bridge and a molasses/salt mix allows a reduction in salt concentration, however this is more expensive and is particularly attractive for deer!

Audrey Sinclair concluded the meeting by thanking the Contin Hall Committee for their help in organising the venue and catering, which had been provided by the Coul House Hotel.