Highland roads ‘under-policed’; plus Inverness Infirmary Bridge – how secure is its future?
Are council committed to repairing bridge? Is this yet another attempt by our council and its officers to get rid of the Infirmary Bridge[1]? We had a similar scenario in 2021 when the bridge was closed for several weeks whilst the council floated ideas of replacing it in a different location.
Since then millions has been spent on the riverside cycle way to which the Infirmary Bridge is an important link, so yet again our council shows a total absence of "joined up" thinking. We are also constantly being encouraged to get out of our cars and closure of this bridge will have a completely opposite effect. The Infirmary Bridge is a landmark much loved by local people and tourists alike.
Its siting, roughly half way between the main town bridge and the Ness Islands crossing, is why it is so well used by pedestrians and cyclists.
For those on the east bank of the river it is vital for access to the Royal Northern Infirmary, Riverside Medical Practice, the Hospice, Eden Court and the Cathedral. For those on the west side it is used to access a host of hospitality businesses on the opposite bank. In addition many tourists use the Infirmary Bridge as part of a Ness Islands circular walk.
Our council has earned a reputation for wasting taxpayers' money on unnecessary projects which, more often than not, look good but have absolutely no practical value.
They also have a reputation for not listening to what local folk want and of effecting change through stealth. Let them be open and honest and tell us clearly whether they are committed to repairing the Infirmary Bridge - and if so what is their timescale for these repairs. Stephen Connah
Inverness
Lack of policing on killer roads blasted Craig Naylor, HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland, and Brian Jones, vice-chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, united to condemn under-policing of killer Highland roads including the A9 and A96. As well as harming efforts to cut deaths and injuries, a shortage of dedicated police personnel tackling road crime is said to be having a "significant" damaging impact on the mental health of officers.[2]
"Standard of driving is the problem, not the roads. Everyone has the 'It'll never happen to me' attitude." - John Donald "I've written twice to the Transport Secretary regarding the A96.
If there isn't money at the moment to dual the A96, at the very least they could bypass the bottlenecks at Nairn, Elgin and Keith. Then do something about the section around Pitcaple." - Jim Scott "Banging on and on about the roads...drive accordingly to every road you drive on...That's what we are now seeing less and less of, good driving skills have declined along with driver's attitudes...and of course human errors and speed." - LJ Fraser
"LJ Fraser, if people would sit at speed limits and not at 30-40mph with great tailbacks causing frustration then this would reduce accidents.
More passing places and fines or bans for people causing tailbacks. You would fail your test for not getting up to speed so why is there not a way of enforcing this." - Martin Reid "Martin Reid, Who would enforce it?
There's already a shortage of police to catch speeding, tailgating, red light hopping, aggressive drivers out there already." - Eddie Mundy "Totally agree, can't remember when I saw a traffic police car; they are like hens' teeth." - Edward Matthews "Tourists and impatience due to the overwhelmed road design and layout; having more police on it will change nothing, they are both major arteries for the north of Scotland; upgrade the road not over a 30 year span like the A9 is getting now." - Andy Ross
"The driving in Scotland is shocking and I don't believe it's because people can't drive properly, the fact is they take chances and deliberately break the law at times because there is little fear of getting caught and prosecuted.
Surely with the accident rate it is clear that the police need a lot more resources?" - HT Hels Bells Mason "That's been my thoughts. You just don't see the police on the roads or anywhere." - Douglas Farquhar
"The number of vehicles on the roads has doubled in the last 30 years. Unless there is a police officer every 500 metres, there will always be accidents and there are a lot roads to police. It's not realistic to have police everywhere; they do their best," - Stewart Ellinson
"The very serious accident my wife and I were in could not have been prevented by extra policing, the police officer who attended the incident was a credit to the police and a kind and caring man who made everything easy to understand and complete regarding the accident." - David Strover
"So the police presence would somehow make the tourists have the ability to drive Scottish roads safely? How does that work? Make it law that any tourist coming over here that plans to drive has to take some sort of driving efficiency test." - Daniel Wilson
"There's more traffic police monitoring the A9 than any other road in the UK; can't go 10 miles without seeing a cop car or a speed van waiting to take your money." - Micra Man "Police Scotland appears to be in a right mess throughout. Senior officers and the Scottish Government need to sort it out sooner than later.
I feel sorry for the officers that have to perform the day to day policing. They are between a rock and a hard place." - Colin Mackintosh "There's a lack of policing everywhere not just the roads, the whole country is becoming feral." - Anne Leidland
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References
- ^ Infirmary Bridge (www.inverness-courier.co.uk)
- ^ under-policing of killer Highland roads including the A9 and A96 (www.inverness-courier.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.inverness-courier.co.uk)