POLITICIANS in Helensburgh have joined forces across the party political divide to demand a permanent solution to years of landslide problems on the A83 trunk road.

The town's MSP, Jackie Baillie, and local councillors Aileen Morton and Gary Mulvaney – the leader and depute leader respectively of Argyll and Bute Council – have signed an open letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and transport secretary Michael Matheson calling for urgent action to improve the main trunk route between Argyll and central Scotland.

The letter states that it's a "miracle" that no-one has been killed or seriously injured by being caught in one of the many landslips that have plagued the road over recent years.

Also putting their signatures to the letter – which calls for a permanent solution to be in place by the end of 2023 – are Argyll and Bute's SNP MSP Michael Russell, Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Donald Cameron, and the leaders of the two opposition groups on Argyll and Bute Council – Sandy Taylor of the SNP, and Argyll First's Douglas Philand.

The letter was sparked by a major landslide on the road at Glen Croe, south-east of the Rest and Be Thankful, on the evening of Tuesday, August 4, following a period of heavy rain.

A diversionary route – the ‘Old Military Road’ on the opposite site of Glen Croe – was opened to traffic on Saturday, August 8, with vehicles travelling under convoy.

The diversionary route was closed overnight on August 10-11 as a precaution after forecasts of more heavy rain, but it reopened at first light on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Major landslide blocks A83 near Rest and Be Thankful

The Scottish Government said almost £80 million had been spent dealing with the effects of years of landslides in the area, and trying to make the road more resilient, since 2007.

The letter from the councillors said: “This continuing impact is why all of Argyll and Bute’s elected representatives have been united in pressing, once again, for urgent action.

“Our local Members of the Scottish Parliament, Michael Russell, Jackie Baillie and Donald Cameron, have been swift to engage with us and to add their own voices to these calls.

“They join us in writing to you, together, to reinforce that request for action on behalf of the people of Argyll and Bute.

“We are asking you to convene an urgent special meeting of the A83 Taskforce, on a virtual basis if needs be, as soon as possible to focus specifically on outline options for a permanent solution and for that meeting to consider and agree the following timescale for the same.”

The politicians demanded a permanent solution to be identified and confirmed by March 31, 2021; a  contract to be awarded by December 31, 2021; and work to start as soon as possible after that, with completion by December 31, 2023.

The councillors added: “We know that this requires a very tremendous effort from all involved, including Transport Scotland which would have to commence work on this immediately in order for it to succeed.

“Argyll and Bute Council will do all that it can for its part in this to co-operate and to encourage all other partners, from all sectors, to do likewise.

READ MORE: 'No more faffing about': Council leader demands action now on A83

“We believe that if the will is there, on all counts, to deliver a permanent solution, then this can certainly be achieved – because the risk of failing to do so is far too great and there is evidence of innovative, viable solutions of similar scale being established in other regions with similar geography and rurality.

“The threats to Argyll and Bute’s economic success and to the contribution it makes to the national economy are well known, as are the various personal impacts on those who live and work in our communities and who find their business, social and health-related activities disrupted without warning when landslips close the Rest.

“Our biggest concern now, though, given the scale of last week’s incident, is continued public safety – it truly is a miracle that no one has been seriously injured or even killed to date.

“We simply cannot afford to wait any longer – the risks are too great.

“We stand ready to do anything that we can to ensure that Argyll and Bute and its communities finally get the solution they deserve for the Rest and be Thankful.”

A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: “We understand the frustration this latest incident will bring for local communities and drivers.

READ MORE: Transport secretary pledges £1.9m for new A83 landslide mitigation work

“Our operating company, BEAR Scotland, is working to assess, clear and then reopen the road as quickly as possible, but can only operate when it is safe to do so.

“To date, more than £13million has been invested in landslide measures at the Rest and Be Thankful and the Old Military road, which have helped keep the road open for an estimated 48 days when it would otherwise have closed.

“This is part of the £79m invested in the wider maintenance and resilience of the A83 since 2007.

“Four roadside catchpits have now been completed, with a total capacity of almost 15,000 tonnes and we are exploring options for further catchpits with more work due to commence next month.

“We appreciate this will be scant consolation to those affected at this time and recognise that a permanent solution is key, albeit challenging, both from an engineering and financial perspective, in the current climate.

“The next taskforce meeting is being brought forward and will take place on August 27.”

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