NC500 under fire over Sutherland roads
A fed-up local councillor has launched a scathing attack on the operators of the NC500 tourism route.
North, west and central Sutherland Hugh Morrison lambasted NC500 for not making a financial contribution towards maintaining the area’s crumbling roads and struggling public services.
Mr Morrison said: “The single track roads are falling apart and are so bad that speed limits will have to be placed on some sections.
“But NC500 will not put any money into anything - including maintaining public toilets and rubbish removal. It is unfair that they are leaving the council to take the blame for the road condition, deal with the negativity it causes and pick up the tab.”
It was estimated last year that the NC500 has brought an extra 29,000 visitors to the north since it was launched in 2015.
Cllr Morrison also criticised VisitScotland for “pulling out of the north”, saying the organisation now had only tourist information centres at Inverness and Ullapool.
He commented as Sutherland County Committee last week discussed its roads maintenance programme. Financial constraints mean that only a restricted programme of surface dressing can be undertaken. Cllr Morrison was not prepared to support the programme, but it was approved by fellow councillors. The committee requested detailed information to be provided on the condition of single-track roads in the north and north west with a view to seeking additional funding.
East Sutherland and Edderton councillor Deirdre Mackay said: “NC500 has been a success beyond measure and many people benefit from it and we want to encourage that but the scale of this requires intervention from Scottish Government.”
NC500 managing director Tom Campbell said: “We are very conscious of constraints on both Highland Council and the Scottish Government’s infrastructure budgets, but we are confident that the raised profile of the North Highlands has enabled a spotlight to be shone on the needs of rural communities."
