No temporary bridge means a 28-mile detour for motorists
MOTORISTS HAVE been left angry and frustrated by a recent phase of repairs to the B871 between Syre, in Strathnaver, and Kinbrace, with at least one driver narrowly missing costly damage to her car suspension after coming on a dug-up section of carriageway unawares. A section of the B871, between Syre and Kinbrace, has been closed to traffic for six weeks as of Monday, October 23, with the closure expected to last until December 1. Road users were given a weekend’s notice of the impending closure via a notice in the Northern Times, dated October 18.
During the resurfacing phase of the work, dancing instructor Jan Trumble, who lives at Brora, was travelling to Farr High School to assist with a project. She described the unpleasant adventure which ensued after she joined the B871 at Kinbrace. “At the beginning of the road, just past Kinbrace Station, there was a sign saying ‘road works’ but there were none for miles and miles so I thought they must have finished”, Ms Trumble said. “I came round a bend and half the road was missing: they had scraped the road right back and there were no signs or cones or anything. My car hit it and I heard the bottom of the car hit the bit of the road that wasn’t scraped. After a few minutes I became aware that something was wrong so stopped to find my tyre almost shredded. I tried to put the spare on but couldn’t get the car high enough.”
This story is from the No 313, November 2017 edition of Am Bratach.
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This story is from the No 313, November 2017 edition of Am Bratach.
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Council Gritters Fall Short In Assynt
‘I took to social media in the vain hope that somebody would notice’ — Cllr Currie
Bookends
“She Said He Said I Said: New Writing Scotland 35”, edited by Diana Hendry and Susie Maguire, Association for Scottish Literary Studies, 2017. £9.95.
Graeme At Large
Graeme At Large
A 19th Century View Of 'Wild' Land
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Geopark Means Business This Year
Securing long-term government support is a priority, says new chairman
Fraser Darling's View Of Highland Medical Care
The “West Highland Survey: an essay in human ecology”, edited by Frank Fraser Darling, was published by the Oxford University Press in 1955. Fraser Darling (1903-79) was an English ecologist, ornithologist, farmer, conservationist and author who between 1939 and 1943 brought derelict land into agricultural production on Tanera Mòr in the Summer Isles. In January 1944 he met Tom Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, who was aware of Fraser Darling’s published works which included a popular weekly column on agricultural science syndicated in several Highland newspapers. They agreed his plan for a social and biological investigation into the problems of the West Highlands and for establishing an agricultural advisory and demonstration centre in the crofting areas. In Fraser Darling’s own words, the West Highland Survey was established “in order to examine in a spirit of scientific inquiry, to gather a solid body of facts for analysis and synthesis, which would serve as a foundation for a future policy for the region”. He continued: “The argument was maintained that if the problem were understood in its wholeness, solution would be possible”. In June 1944, a team which included Frank Fraser Darling as director and four young Gaelic-speaking field officers, began work. The resulting 438-page book includes the following account of the Highlands and Islands Medical Service, launched in 1913 and forerunner of the Scottish National Health Service. After thirty years, the surveyors regarded the service as an unqualified success, an enviable situation underlined by the number of able medics seeking work in the post-war Highlands.
From Our Archives
Long service nurse to be honoured by community
The Postie's Post
IF YOU are a regular reader of my postie’s posts you will probably sigh when you realise that I am talking about roads again this month. But I do have an excuse and that is because the Highland Council aren’t really that good at managing them at times.
Bookends
George Gunn, “The Great Edge”, Grace Note Publications, 2017. £12.99.
The Postie's Post
WHEN YOU consider that we really don’t have that many roads in the Highlands, the ones we do have seem to get a story from most people you talk to.
