YOUR VIEWS: A9 deaths, transport woes and Highland Council bins plans
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Readers respond to a number of stories making the news this week.
More bins makes no sense for the environment
Just read today that the Highland Council are wasting our money again AND destroying our environment by giving us more large plastic bins for our rubbish.
Why? When we as supposed to be looking after the environment!
We don’t need more plastic bins when we are supposed to be avoiding plastic at all costs. And this makes each house have four, possibly five bins each. This is madness.
Who in their right mind has decided to ignore David Attenburgh and just snow us under with more plastic?
How much is this costing us?
I thought Highland Council were trying to save money?
Name and address supplied
Bus firm status quo cannot continue
For about 18 months now, we’ve heard the same narrative from Stagecoach that they have a shortage of bus drivers, hence why the Highlands suffers so many cancellations.
Yet equally, as one bus driver told me off the record, Stagecoach Highland recruitment “is like a revolving door” with driver turnover worryingly high.
So, the question now evolves from “Why so many cancellations?” to “What is going wrong with recruitment and retention at Stagecoach Highland?” For there is no use hiring bus drivers if the working culture is so poor that they quickly leave along with long-serving staff members.
The importance of good public transport for Inverness and the Highlands cannot be under-estimated.
It is vital for our future sustainability, developing social cohesion, improving social mobility and reducing congestion to improve economic growth.
Equally, passengers need reliability, convenience and cost-effectiveness.
This is not happening, so passenger numbers are dwindling, fares have risen and cuts are being threatened across the board.
Politicians in the north of England recognised they had a problem with their trains, so they stripped Transpennine Express and Northern of their license to operate services and put it instead into government hands.
So, what is the plan for action with Stagecoach Highland?
Surely the status quo cannot continue.
James Rorison
Skye Court
Inverness
A9 problems have to be tackled
After yet another death of a driver on the A9 – this time of an 18-year-old – the Courier asked how many more had to die before promises on dualling the route are finally fulfilled.
“My thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost loved ones on our Highland roads. So terrible a loss. However Police Scotland Highland & Islands need to do more about the speed of traffic on all our roads. I hear you all jumping to the conclusion of fast speed, no, it’s slow speed. For example yesterday travelling from Aviemore back to Inverness I was in a convoy sitting about 50 to 55, somewhere after Carrbridge before the German head we slowed to about 35 to 40. Once we reached the dual carriageway it was like the Wacky Races, cars coming from everywhere just to overtake. The car in front was a tourist without a care in the world.” – Donald Cameron
“Donald Cameron, 20 miles per hour on the way to Skye last week and people overtaking on blind corners due to frustration.” – Venture Highland
“And what about the A82? How many more have to die on that road???” – Pauline Crayk
“The government don’t actually care. If they did, this would have been completed years ago. All jumping on the bandwagon just now as the election is coming up, but once it’s over, you’ll not see them for dust with some lame excise about there being no money...How many people had to die to get these politicians to take notice?” – Carole Chisholm
Rail passengers crammed onto packed train
Furious rail passengers slammed ScotRail after finding themselves crammed like sardines onto a packed train on the Highland mainline that had only two carriages – in the middle of the Bank Holiday weekend.
“Been happening for as long as I remember. Every time there is a big event on in the central belt. Been sitting on the floor coming home from gigs for over 35 years. I doubt they’ll change now??” – Carole Chisholm
“Can’t remember the last time I was on a ScotRail train where it didn’t have half the carriages it’s supposed to.” – David Clafton
“This has been going on for years. Why pay for a ticket and there’s no seat? Surely this is dangerous travelling. They need to start treating people with respect.” – Ann Budding
Welcome for improvements to junction
Major night-time roadworks have sparked various road closures around the Raigmore Interchange in Inverness this week as £800,000 of work is carried on resurfacing and crash barriers.
“Pity they couldn’t have incorporated the new pedestrian crossing upgrade work at the south up-ramp junction but yes, the road surface is in dire need of resurfacing, so that’s got to be a positive!” – Keith Alexander
“Keith Alexander, as far as I was told, the other works will hopefully be started in autumn.” – William D Mackenzie
“At least it won’t be wreaking people’s cars. Fair play to them I say, there’s only so much they can do!!!” – Claire Welch
“£800,000......is the tar made of gold?” – McGhee AW
Letters should be emailed to newsdesk@hnmedia.co.uk. Please include your address and a daytime contact number. You can also tweet us: @InvCourier or leave a comment on Facebook @inveresscourier
