Council delegation presses Highland projects with Transport Minister

The Chairman of The Highland Council’s Transport Environmental and Community Services Committee, Councillor Graham Phillips, this week met Scotland’s Transport Secretary to discuss key projects in the Highlands.

Their talks included attempts being made to provide emergency cover on the Scrabster – Stromness ferry link provided by Serco Northlink following the loss for a month of the Hamnavoe through a catastrophic engine failure as well as progress on the resurfacing of the Kessock Bridge.

Progress being made by the Council with the Inverness West Link Road and the Stromeferry Bypass were also discussed at the meeting in Edinburgh on Tuesday.

Councillor Phillips said: “We meet regularly with the Minister to discuss key issues and the Orkney ferry service and the Kessock Bridge were obviously high on the agenda.

“The absence of the Hamnavoe means a huge loss of income to tourist businesses in Caithness and Sutherland and everything possible must be done to find a replacement ferry as quickly as possible. The Minister is acutely aware of the crucially important role of the ferry service and is working hard to resolve the problem.”

“At Kessock Bridge, Transport Scotland have assured me that they fully expect Balfour Beatty to complete the works in advance of the main summer tourist season, avoiding further peak time traffic delays. Financial penalties, as in many construction contracts of this nature, are available should the works overrun.”