Transport Vision For Sutherland Points The Way Forward

5th August 2007

the Sutherland Partnership www.sutherlandpartnership.org.uk recently published Transport Vision For Sutherland brings together information and facts about transport in Scotlands largest geographical county. the report outlines what is already there and points out several key features that are requiring attention.

Sutherland has some of the most dramatic scenery in Scotland with the lowest population per sqaure mile and a very challenging set of transport problems.

The report quite rightly links delivering successful communities to the transport infrastructure. If the Sutherland economy is to improve then the road and rail network need upgrading. Some of the roads date back through the centuries and the needs of cars and the travelling public need improvements. The report points out that differing standards of things like road alignment are making challenging driving conditions and that road safety could be much improved with adequate upgrading.

The rail improvements needed require capital investment. Freight services were re-introduced in 1996 but declined to a single oil train once a week. the increasing use of road for timber transport now increasing in the Highlands needs to be looked at once again and espcially the facility at Kinbrace and the sidings at Forsinard and Brora. anyone who regualarly travels behind timber lorries will agree with that statement and as manyy forests in the north are maturing and coming closer to being felleed there will be many more timber lorries chugging there way along Highland roads if this si not addressed.

See the full report