Dave Thompson MSP

WHILE there may be a short period of inconvenience to late night motorists, I am still pleased that long-overdue resurfacing work on the A830 is to be completed this spring.

Following a campaign for road users’ safety to be improved by eliminating the risk posed by a controversial surface on this now-notorious section of the Road to The Isles, engineers will move in to resurface about a mile of the road over a fortnight in March and April.

World-famous as one of the world’s most iconic journeys, the final section of the Road to the Isles has in more recent times become known for its high accident rate.

Over several years dozens of incidents have been recorded, in particular the tragic incident in September 2010 when local teenagers Kirsty Bryden and Roddy MacInnes died when their car plunged off the road into Loch Eilt.

Since that time I have been proud to stand with Kirsty’s father John and other local campaigners and press for improvements to the road.

I am glad to say that Transport Scotland listened to the catalogue of evidence amassed by Mr Bryden and others and, once a safety barrier had been erected on the corner where Kirsty and Roddy’s car left the road, agreed to carry out its own survey of conditions on the road.

As a result of this they recognised that work was needed to improve the surface and that work is to begin imminently.

Since road conditions have been cited by many as a contributory factor following accidents, I hope that this work will play a major part in improving the safety of all who use this road.

The work will be carried out at night to help minimise any inconvenience to the local community and visitors to the area but I was only too happy to take on board concerns expressed by Arisaig and District Community Council about a potential impact on the area’s tourist trade.

That is why I contacted Transport Scotland and Scotland TranServ, the firm which will carry out the resurfacing contract, to ensure signs of the nightly closure do not give a false impression that the road is closed for a fortnight.

Instead the road will be closed between 8pm and 6am but will be reopened several times a night to allow traffic to pass.

This arrangement will, I hope, minimise disruption caused by these important works and, if successful, provide a model for other urgent projects on lifeline routes where full closure is not an option.

Another major issue for the area is the Scottish Government’s current consultation on ferry services around the Minch.

Later this month I shall meet Infrastructure Secretary Alex Neil to discuss the Scottish Government’s “Scottish Ferries Review”, which has set out for consultation a series of proposed changes to the operation of ferry services around our coasts.

I have already asked for residents of my constituency who will be affected by any change to give me their opinion on the proposals so that I can pass these views to the minister.

I intend to make representation to the minister for improved ferry links to strengthen the connection of some of our less central areas to the main part of the Scottish mainland.

Another recent positive development was Finance Secretary John Swinney’s announcement of a further £40 million to help provide a modern broadband network for all rural areas.

This money comes on top of £75.5 million Mr Swinney had already announced specifically for rural broadband and will go a long way to helping to provide broadband in exactly the kinds of areas where it is predicted to have most impact.

This extra money is not the full answer to the hundreds of millions of pounds needed to ensure the whole country is able to feel the benefits of modern communications technology but I intend to do all I can to ensure that no areas are left behind as this new style of infrastructure is rolled out across Scotland.