Dave Thompson MSP

Highlands and Islands MSP Dave Thompson has written to the organisation responsible for Scotland's major roads to call for urgent action to end a spate of accidents on the A830, including a recent tragedy in which two local  young people lost their lives.

Mr Thompson (SNP) became involved after speaking to the family of Kirsty Bryden, 19, (CORRECT 19, not 21 as incorrectly reported in some media) about the circumstances of the accident in September in which she and travelling companion Roddy MacInnes, 17, lost their lives when their car left the road and plunged into Loch Eilt.

Former policeman John Bryden, Kirsty's father, claims to have evidence of numerous further car crashes on the same stretch of road near Lochailort within the same period as the incident which claimed his daughter's life.

Since meeting the former policeman, Mr Thompson has lobbied Transport Scotland to ask for additional safety measures on the route and has also spoken to Northern Constabulary to suggest that the force takes part in a survey of traffic in the area after suggestions that a number of unsafe vehicles have spilled fuel on the winding road, making it even more treacherous than normal.

In a letter (attached) to David Middleton, chief executive of Transport Scotland, Mr Thompson urged the agency to take urgent action to inform drivers of the accident risk in the area and instruct them to moderate their speed. Importantly, Mr Thompson called for a crash barrier to be placed alongside the part of the road left by the car which carried Miss Bryden and Mr MacInnes, with interim safety measures installed immediately to enhance public safety until this barrier is added.

One issue Mr Thompson was eager to ensure Transport Scotland and Northern Constabulary had uppermost in their consideration of the situation was that the road between Lochailort and Mallaig has been modernised, with carefully-constructed cambers and adequate barriers, while the section from Lochailort to Glenfinnan is narrower and has cambers angled in the wrong direction and fewer safety measures.

"One fact about this situation that has caused me great worry is that many of the recent accidents have involved drivers who know the road well, leading to speculation that something has changed," Mr Thompson said.

"Taking this ten-mile section of road up to the same standard as the rest of the route is absolutely vital but that is a long term measure and we cannot sit back and wait for those changes to be made. So I have called for Transport Scotland to put in place emergency interim measures to warn drivers of the increased risk of accident in this section of road until safety barriers can be added and engineering work is carried out to improve the road."

Note:

Text of Mr Thompson's letter to Transport Scotland:

Dear Mr Middleton

The Deaths of Kirsty Bryden and Roddy MacInnes on the A830

I visited Mr and Mrs Bryden at their home last Saturday 13th November. Later Mr Bryden showed me the site of the accident where their daughter died in September and other parts of the A830 that give cause for concern.

I am extremely concerned that further fatalities could occur in the very near future, not least because I myself skidded on a right hand bend at midday about 5 miles short of the Bryden’s home. The road was wet but not icy and I was travelling at a safe speed, given the conditions, of between 40 and 45 mph.

Mr Bryden has documented numerous other accidents in the past 7 weeks, including another at the same spot his daughter died. Several of these drivers are people who have used the road for many years without incident; some of whom also plunged into Loch Eilt.

The comparison between the new section of road between Mallaig and Lochailort and the section between Lochailort and Glenfinnan could not be starker, as the new section is wider, has comprehensive barriers and carefully constructed cambered corners.

While there are various warning signs on the old road, there is no warning in Lochailort or Glenfinnan that the driver is entering a ten mile section of unimproved road with adverse cambers, and I would ask you to consider erecting warning signs to that effect. I further note that many of the portable temporary “skid” signs etc are also ineffective especially as many are too light and have simply fallen over.

What also seems clear in the recent spate of accidents by drivers familiar with the road is that something in the road’s environment may have changed. Mr Bryden has noted several instances recently of oil or diesel spillages, as well as mud thrown on the road by HGVs accidentally driving on the soft verge. In fact, just such a spillage incident was reported to the police in Mallaig on Monday involving a road repair vehicle. The fact that the accidents are dotted along the ten mile section of road, suggest more than one vehicle is at fault, and if so, a further short term, but potentially life saving measure, might be a census and check over several days by Transport Scotland and the police which could identify any offending vehicles.

As for a permanent solution, while I appreciate that there are still numerous sections of unbarriered road adjacent to water or other hazards in the North West of Scotland, there does appear to be an urgent case for dealing with this ten mile section in the very near future, as I believe a study you commissioned has already suggested. In particular, the bend where Ms Bryden went off the road needs urgent attention. I also wonder if temporary measures at this dangerous bend could be implemented until such time as barriers are erected.

A further point which I noted on the drive between Fort William and Mallaig was that while several townships on the road have 40mph speed restrictions, there is none at Lochailort. The clearest comparison is the 40mph limit at Arisaig, which is just as dispersed a settlement as Lochailort is. So I would ask you to consider imposing a 40 mph limit around the Lochailort junction too.

As I regard this as a very important matter I am happy to meet you at the site so you can see first hand why this is a particular problem.

Given that I am genuinely concerned that life is at risk I would appreciate a rapid response to this letter, and so I am copying in Duncan MacNeill who spoke with my assistant on Monday.

Yours etc.