Condition of Inverness roads leaves Highland councillors raging
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
INVERNESS councillors will hold a special meeting today to try and put the brakes on what some members fear is a “financial time bomb” relating to the city’s roads.
The move has been prompted by mounting concern that the current formula for dictating how more than £3 million of roads money is invested could end up costing the council even more due to the deteriorating state of the network.
Currently 90 per cent of funding is based on road length with just 10 per cent allocated on the basis of population size.
City councillors say that leaves urban areas – with shorter but far busier roads – struggling.
Inverness South councillor Andrew Jarvie said: “The state of some Inverness roads is a financial time bomb.
“If something is not done now it could leave the council with a huge bill to repair, if not replace, some roads.
“I’d rather spend £25,000 this year than £100,000 next year.
“It is a clear ‘spend to save’ policy.”
Inverness Ness-side councillor Ron MacWilliam said: “For decades Inverness has been short-changed in roads maintenance and it’s starting to show in the condition of our main streets.
“Some of the arterial roads in Inverness centre – Millburn Road, Academy Street and in the Longman – are in a state of appalling decline.
“These roads are used by many people across the Highland region, so I think it’s high time we had a sensible discussion about how to prioritise the tight resources available according to usage and need.
“The council-maintained Highland road network has been deteriorating for the past 20 years.
“Council engineers are doing a terrific job but with the resources they have they’re basically managing the long-term decline of our local roads as best they can.
“We need to stop the territorial squabbling and just get on with the work that needs to be prioritised regardless of where in the Highlands that may be.”
n Check our website for any developments from today’s meeting.
