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Roads operator Bear Scotland suspending operations during coronavirus outbreak


By Louise Glen

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Bear Scotland.
Bear Scotland.

Government roads operator BEAR Scotland has said it is "suspending operations" and will only carry out essential services during the coronavirus outbreak.

In a letter to stakeholders around the Highlands, the operator said it was "working in difficult and unprecedented times".

The letter said: "The safety of our employees and supply chain is always of paramount importance and we’re closely following government advice in relation to our staff and our business.

"This is changing on a daily basis, and we’re doing our utmost to adhere to any new advice as it emerges.

"We have therefore taken the decision to suspend operations, and are making safe various work sites this week following which only essential services such as our Incident Control Room, winter maintenance, emergency response and essential road safety operations will continue.

"As noted, we are currently working to ensure that any ongoing non-essential road maintenance projects are paused and left in a manner which is safe for public use. Any work which was scheduled to begin in the coming weeks will be reprogrammed, and stakeholders will be kept informed of any new dates."

The letter continues: "BEAR provides an essential service ensuring the trunk road network across the north of Scotland is fit for the purpose of national resilience including delivery of food and medical supplies, as well as ensuring vital access for the use of the emergency services and critical workers.

"We are working to support the ministerial call for efforts to be focused on delivering critical services to safeguard our road network, helping to ensure that Scotland’s emergency services can still reach those most in need during this difficult time."

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