Council bosses in Argyll and Bute have activated an emergency fund to help get the region moving again.
Although the UK Government fund brings “some relief”, the council will still have to fork out the first £529,000 for repairs and rebuilds after severe rainfall took its toll on the region’s roads and services.
A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council said this week: “Work is progressing, moving on from the significant extreme rainfall. We continue to take action as a council, and with partners, to repair damage, and adapt and restore the road network and services affected. The ongoing extensive work to address this impact is causing significant additional costs.
“We welcome the availability of the Bellwin Scheme, which provides some relief. Under the scheme, the council is required to fund the first £529,000 and only eligible costs in excess of this level can be claimed.”
As costs are mounting, the council said it was not able to provide more figures just yet.
Specialists are being brought in where needed to “move the area on as quickly as possible” says the council, stressing its priority is finding and delivering solutions to keep repair teams and communities safe.
Photograph: Mairi Fleck Photography.
The council hopes a new bridge in Kilmelford, for pedestrians and light vehicle use, will be in place by the end of this week after a hole appeared in the old stone crossing, which had to be demolished.
Two diversion routes are in place from the village – one route is via the C29 Loch Avich and B845 Taynuilt roads, but this is not an option for HGVs. Cars and light vehicles only can also use a 24-hour convoy route running past the fire station and village hall, turning right into Melfort Home Farm, exiting back on the A816 just south of the Oude Dam.
Urgent strengthening work was also carried out on Kilninver bridge. Weight restrictions are gradually being increased on it after it was limited to 3.5 tonnes – it is now 18 tonnes. The site will continue to be monitored.
Meetings have also taken place with the landowner of the hillside on the A816, south of Kintraw where there was a massive landslide. An outline alternative route through a forested area using an existing forestry track and then across unmade ground to connect back to the A816 is also being looked at as an emergency route but depends on land agreements and the outcome of discussions with Historic Scotland. Long term, it is possible that this emergency route could become the redirected A816.
A council spokesperson said: “The reason for carrying out both the clearance of the existing road and also progressing the emergency route is that this enables a much faster solution to be progressed. An emergency road being to a more basic standard, which could be subsequently upgraded should the route of the A816 be permanently realigned at some point in the future. The provision of a permanent route would require significantly more planning and consents, and is likely to take at least two years and more likely up to five years, whereas an emergency route could be completed in a matter of weeks.”
The emergency funding for local authorities facing such dire situations, now activated by Argyll and Bute Council, is called the Bellwin Scheme. The UK Government funding pot is administered by the Scottish Government for Scottish councils.
Council leader Robin Currie and Argyll and Bute’s chief executive Pippa Milne have also been speaking directly with the Scottish Government’s Transport Minister as well as highlighting the situation to the UK Government.
“We will continue this engagement at both political and officer level as a priority,” added the council spokesperson.
Although the Bellwin scheme can help with the roads, it can not be used to help businesses adversely impacted by the loss of key transport routes. Argyll and Bute Council says it is not in a position to provide them with financial assistance itself, but will continue to look at what support might be available from elsewhere.
Meanwhile, it is encouraging people to use shops and services in their own area at this “very challenging time”.
Updates on council services can be found on the authority’s website at argyll-bute.gov.uk