Dave Thompson MSP

Highlands and Islands MSP Dave Thompson is to raise the growing campaign for crash barriers to be erected along at two dangerous corners on a Lochalsh road with the head of the agency responsible for maintaining the country's road network.

Mr Thompson has already been instrumental in encouraging a series of "enforcement days", in which vehicles will be inspected for road-worthiness, on the A830 Fort William to Mallaig road.

As a second part of the campaign to end the recent shocking spate of incidents on a two mile stretch of the route near Lochailort, better known to many as the Road to the Isles, the SNP politician has lobbied Transport Scotland for the erection of crash barriers at two corners where several accidents have recently occurred.

However Mr Thompson was disappointed that his initial letter to Transport Scotland resulted in a non-committal response from the agency.

Therefore on Friday (26/11/10) he placed a call to Jim Barton, director of Trunk Road Network Management at Transport Scotland, who was at home on a day off, to raise the matter with him personally. Following a lengthy telephone conversation, it was agreed that the pair should meet face to face at Holyrood next week to discuss how safety could be improved.

Among the accidents which have raised concerns in the Lochalsh community was one on Tuesday September 28 in which 19-year-old Kirsty Bryden and Roddy MacInnes, 17, lost their lives when their car plunged into Loch Eilt.

Transport Scotland said any decision on the addition of barriers would be made after Northern Constabulary had completed its Police Collision Investigation Report into the tragic incident but Mr Thompson is optimistic of a satisfactory outcome to the campaign.

"After speaking to Mr Barton, I am confident that measures to help bring an end to this series of terrible accidents can be agreed," Mr Thompson said.

Notes:

Mr Thompson's letter calling for additional safety measures (sent Weds 17th):

Dear Mr Middleton

The Deaths of Kirsty Bryden and Roddy MacInnes on the A830

I visited Mr and Mrs Bryden at their home last Saturday 13th November. Later Mr Bryden showed me the site of the accident where their daughter died in September and other parts of the A830 that give cause for concern.

I am extremely concerned that further fatalities could occur in the very near future, not least because I myself skidded on a right hand bend at midday about 5 miles short of the Bryden’s home. The road was wet but not icy and I was travelling at a safe speed, given the conditions, of between 40 and 45 mph.

Mr Bryden has documented numerous other accidents in the past 7 weeks, including another at the same spot his daughter died. Several of these drivers are people who have used the road for many years without incident; some of whom also plunged into Loch Eilt.

The comparison between the new section of road between Mallaig and Lochailort and the section between Lochailort and Glenfinnan could not be starker, as the new section is wider, has comprehensive barriers and carefully constructed cambered corners.

While there are various warning signs on the old road, there is no warning in Lochailort or Glenfinnan that the driver is entering a ten mile section of unimproved road with adverse cambers, and I would ask you to consider erecting warning signs to that effect. I further note that many of the portable temporary “skid” signs etc are also ineffective especially as many are too light and have simply fallen over.

What also seems clear in the recent spate of accidents by drivers familiar with the road is that something in the road’s environment may have changed. Mr Bryden has noted several instances recently of oil or diesel spillages, as well as mud thrown on the road by HGVs accidentally driving on the soft verge. In fact, just such a spillage incident was reported to the police in Mallaig on Monday involving a road repair vehicle. The fact that the accidents are dotted along the ten mile section of road, suggest more than one vehicle is at fault, and if so, a further short term, but potentially life saving measure, might be a census and check over several days by Transport Scotland and the police which could identify any offending vehicles.

As for a permanent solution, while I appreciate that there are still numerous sections of unbarriered road adjacent to water or other hazards in the North West of Scotland, there does appear to be an urgent case for dealing with this ten mile section in the very near future, as I believe a study you commissioned has already suggested. In particular, the bend where Ms Bryden went off the road needs urgent attention. I also wonder if temporary measures at this dangerous bend could be implemented until such time as barriers are erected.

A further point which I noted on the drive between Fort William and Mallaig was that while several townships on the road have 40mph speed restrictions, there is none at Lochailort. The clearest comparison is the 40mph limit at Arisaig, which is just as dispersed a settlement as Lochailort is. So I would ask you to consider imposing a 40 mph limit around the Lochailort junction too.

As I regard this as a very important matter I am happy to meet you at the site so you can see first hand why this is a particular problem.

Given that I am genuinely concerned that life is at risk I would appreciate a rapid response to this letter, and so I am copying in Duncan MacNeill who spoke with my assistant on Monday.

Yours etc.

Transport Scotland's response.