THIS week's councillor column comes from Independent councillor for Lomond North, George Freeman.
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‘REST and Be Thankful’. How appropriate the name as, for many years, it appears that this is what the Scottish Government would say to residents and businesses across Argyll and Bute with regards to the endless calls for action to be taken to address the never ending road closures on the A83 due to landslips.
It would certainly appear to show that our rural areas have been a low priority for the Scottish Government in terms of infrastructure investment.
If this was on a major road in the central belt, there would be no end to the resources that would have been found to address the problem.
READ MORE: 11 options revealed to improve access to Argyll and Bute via A83
At last, due to further landslips and road closures over the past year, the Scottish Government have now been forced into taking action with the minister [for transport and infrastructure, Michael Matheson] announcing at the recent A83 Task Force meeting that a consultation on the various options would be carried out over the coming months, with recommendations coming forward in the spring of next year.
The public are now faced with 11 different options to consider as part of the consultation process.
These include options for fixed links, or bridges, across the Clyde or across the Gareloch and Loch Long - which, due to the potential costs involved, are unlikely to be the Scottish Government’s preferred options.
The majority of the options unveiled by the government last week would take traffic away from the Arrochar and Tarbet area, and could have a devastating impact on local businesses in these communities.
READ MORE: Opinion: Helensburgh waterfront project will be source of great pride for town
It was most disappointing to hear Brendan O’Hara MP on BBC Radio Scotland recently, indicating that he would not rule out tolls for the new route.
He said he had spent time in the Faroe Islands, where they were paying £12.5 million per kilometre for tunnels, and asked that tunnels were not ruled out.
When the reporter highlighted to him that the Scottish Government had got rid of tolls across Scotland, and asked if it might be worthwhile looking at a toll road, he said that he ruled nothing out.
As tolls have been removed from across Scotland, I believe that it is totally unacceptable for any politician to say that they would not rule out tolls to fund the new route, which should give unfettered access to and from Argyll and Bute.
All consultees should reject any possibility of tolls being placed on this new rural route.
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