Dave Thompson MSP

SKYE, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Dave Thompson has backed campaigners who are pressing Transport Scotland and the agency’s contractors to find a less difficult time for the A82 to be closed for major improvements.

After hearing of concern from local businesses and residents about potentially damaging consequences of Transport Scotland’s initial proposal for the busy trunk road to be closed at Onich between 7pm and 6am for three weeks this autumn, Mr Thompson held private talks at the start of August with Transport Scotland’s roads area manager for the north of Scotland to call for a less inconvenient time. He followed that up with an email to Transport Scotland last week after their public consultation.

“The amount of time needed for this work means that whenever it is carried out there will be some inconvenience for the surrounding community,” said Mr Thompson.

“What I was concerned about was that the initial suggested schedule coincided with school holidays and the fear expressed by many that this could have a detrimental effect on an important element in the area’s economy.

Mr Thompson arranged a face to face meeting with Bob Mitchell, Transport Scotland’s north area roads manager, at the Black Isle Show earlier this month, when he pressed for a more suitable programme for the work to be brought forward.