Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is seeking a meeting with Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Michael Matheson, to find out the proposed “solutions” to stop the numerous A83 closures at the Rest and Be Thankful.
The local MSP believes that several options are being considered by the Scottish Government to solve the ongoing issues with the Rest and Be Thankful, and she has written to both the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Transport Scotland seeking a meeting to find out exactly what options are being realistically considered.
In addition, Mrs Grant has submitted a PQ to the Scottish Government on this issue in the hope to find out how much these closures are costing the Scottish Government every year.
Currently, the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful is closed for repair works after a large landslide with cars being diverted to The Old Military Road which is a single-track road using a convoy system. However, this is set to change on Wednesday (23rd September) weather permitting. The Rest and Be Thankful has had three serious landslides in 2020 alone.
Rhoda Grant said: “This issue has plagued Argyll and Bute communities for far too long and it is high time that a permanent solution was found and put into action.
“The Scottish Government have committed to consulting on a solution to this which is encouraging however, it is late in the day. With an election looming it is unlikely that a solution will be agreed before that happens.”
Mrs Grant continued: “the wheels need to start turning as it’s a miracle that no one has been hurt in these landslides. I will continue to pressure the Scottish Government to meet me and to put these options out for consultation as soon as possible.”