U-turn over roads pre-gritting plan

Highland Council has changed its mind over a controversial plan to scrap evening pre-gritting on a number of roads next winter.

The authority had originally outlined a proposal to stop gritting after 9pm on quiet roads where fewer than 20 vehicles drive through the night.

But at a meeting in Inverness yesterday (Thursday 5 February) councillors decided to put the plans on hold.

According to a report in the Lochaber News, roads including the A861 Lochailort-Shiel Bridge-Drumsallie, A884 Carnoch-Lochaline, B863 Glencoe-Kinlochleven-North Ballachulish and B8004 Banavie-Gairlochy would not get gritted until the next day between 8.30am and 9am - if roads monitoring showed there were fewer than 20 cars passing through the night.

Councillor Graham MacKenzie said: "Given the concerns expressed by the public and indeed across the chamber I propose that we should refer this proposal to full council and at this time we will not pursue this saving."