Tolls 'could pay for new roads'...

BertieUK

Chris_M .......... When you say that ..I believe extended avalanche shelters were discounted before it even went out for consultation.....

I think that on hindsight, the Engineers should have realised many years ago that 'avalanche shelters' would have been the best solution, and considering how much inconvience and money that has been spent repairng these sections and they are no further forward than they were thirty years ago. This stretch of road is, as you are aware, constantly being monitored for movement by the pins that give the measure of movement constantly.

This is one beautiful spot of beauty for both the traveller on the road and also the traveller on the single track railway system.

Chrisblue1962

BertieUK wrote: »

This is one story which is hard to believe:-

Scottish councils paid out more than £33m for compensation claims over the last five years, figures released after a Freedom of Information request show.

The figures, requested by the Scottish Tories, showed that £33.2m was spent settling 13,000 claims from 2007-2012.

The party said it suggested there was a "compensation culture" which was "spiralling out of control".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-20842053

Why is this "hard to believe"?

Given that your average trip claim can cost a local authority £10k to £15k, after paying compensation and their own legal costs and that of the claimant, I would say it was n under-estimate.

What people don't realise is that councils usually have to pay trip claims out of their own budgets, the self same ever-dwindling budget used for repairs, unlike a "no win, no fee" trip claimant whose solicitors take out insurance against losing a trip claim but get their costs paid if they win!...

For the solicitors of the claimant, they should be re-named "head we will, tails you lose" - the public lose out through higher council taxes, central government funding being diverted from other uses and reducing spending upon highways maintenance.

BertieUK

Chrisblue1962 wrote: »

Why is this "hard to believe"?


Given that your average trip claim can cost a local authority £10k to £15k, after paying compensation and their own legal costs and that of the claimant, I would say it was n under-estimate.

What people don't realise is that councils usually have to pay trip claims out of their own budgets, the self same ever-dwindling budget used for repairs, unlike a "no win, no fee" trip claimant whose solicitors take out insurance against losing a trip claim but get their costs paid if they win!...

For the solicitors of the claimant, they should be re-named "head we will, tails you lose" - the public lose out through higher council taxes, central government funding being diverted from other uses and reducing spending upon highways maintenance.

Why is this "hard to believe"? Unless I am misreading your comments I find your reasoning hard to believe.

With the greatest of respect to you, the motorist pays their taxes to use the road and expect nothing less than be able to get between A and B without causing vast amounts of damage to their vehicles.

I understand what you are saying, but to be honest someone is not doing their job to be in this mess or the system is to blame and we are not interested in politics of what you say 'what the people dont realise is' thats someone or somebody just not taking responsibility.

Always the motorist who comes out of this worse off.

grizzly1911

Chrisblue1962 wrote: »

For the solicitors of the claimant, they should be re-named "head we will, tails you lose" - the public lose out through higher council taxes, central government funding being diverted from other uses and reducing spending upon highways maintenance.

Don't agree with all this claim for this claim for that culture, but the government no doubt calculate it is cheaper to pay the claim than do the necessary work to eliminate/reduce claims.

I appreciate the article doesn't really cover road claims but some of the roads by us are in a disgusting state, it is bad enough with fat 17" car wheels, some must be near impassible on bikes/motorbikes.

Another one not far away from you Greenbank Drive, down from Smithdown Road to Sefton Park was a hoot earlier this year. I note from googlemaps/streetview that it now appears to have been repaired, you had to drive round the potholes if you could.

grizzly1911

BertieUK wrote: »

Chris_M .......... When you say that ..I believe extended avalanche shelters were discounted before it even went out for consultation.....

I think that on hindsight, the Engineers should have realised many years ago that 'avalanche shelters' would have been the best solution, and considering how much inconvience and money that has been spent repairng these sections and they are no further forward than they were thirty years ago. This stretch of road is, as you are aware, constantly being monitored for movement by the pins that give the measure of movement constantly.

This is one beautiful spot of beauty for both the traveller on the road and also the traveller on the single track railway system.

http://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=58.155147,-6.903573&spn=0.000771,0.001725&t=m&z=19&layer=c&cbll=58.155147,-6.903573&panoid=GQF4mTnELSWKI84zkihTYw&cbp=12,143.68,,0,0


Take a look at this link for googlemaps. B8011, it is just on the join between old and new, I know it is building for the future but I don't see any large scale develeopment or leap in traffic volumes coming any time soon.

BertieUK

grizzly1911 wrote: »

http://maps.google.co.uk/?ll=58.155147,-6.903573&spn=0.000771,0.001725&t=m&z=19&layer=c&cbll=58.155147,-6.903573&panoid=GQF4mTnELSWKI84zkihTYw&cbp=12,143.68,,0,0


Take a look at this link for googlemaps. B8011, it is just on the join between old and new, I know it is building for the future but I don't see any large scale develeopment or leap in traffic volumes coming any time soon.

Maybe its to give you a few moments of relaxed driving pleasure of how it will be for future generations.

On a serious note for a moment grizzly1911 there was something unique about travelling on the roads of yesterday that we have lost, probably for the better, but to travel on the 'Roads to the Isles' it was magic as the Scots would say.

Now as we want to get between two points as fast as we can, we miss an awful lot of the natural beauty of our 'green and pleasant land' I digress. Mmm thanks for that link.

chris_m

BertieUK wrote: »

I think that on hindsight, the Engineers should have realised many years ago that 'avalanche shelters' would have been the best solution, and considering how much inconvience and money that has been spent repairng these sections and they are no further forward than they were thirty years ago. This stretch of road is, as you are aware, constantly being monitored for movement by the pins that give the measure of movement constantly.

This is one beautiful spot of beauty for both the traveller on the road and also the traveller on the single track railway system.

No argument from me, on either count

chris_m

grizzly1911 wrote: »

Take a look at this link for googlemaps. B8011, it is just on the join between old and new, I know it is building for the future but I don't see any large scale develeopment or leap in traffic volumes coming any time soon.

Ah yes, the Uig road. A heritage centre, a distillery (which I see is now open to the public) and quite a few crofts. Stunning scenery, though, but none of that would lead to a significant traffic increase. I guess the EU offered the money so it had to be used somewhere or lost, so they picked all the worst bits of road that they felt needed an upgrade.

Still, if it saves wrecking my wheels/suspension and the EU wants to pay, I'm not going to complain :rotfl:

BertieUK

chris_m wrote: »

Ah yes, the Uig road. A heritage centre, a distillery (which I see is now open to the public) and quite a few crofts. Stunning scenery, though, but none of that would lead to a significant traffic increase. I guess the EU offered the money so it had to be used somewhere or lost, so they picked all the worst bits of road that they felt needed an upgrade.

Still, if it saves wrecking my wheels/suspension and the EU wants to pay, I'm not going to complain :rotfl:

Now that is good news Chris_m ... must plan a visit on my next trip to the Highlands.

I hope that whatever solution they come up with the 'landslip' they are careful to retain the natural beauty of the area for everyone as well as people like yourself.

All the very best for the New year. I am off to have a dram or two.

chris_m

BertieUK wrote: »

I hope that whatever solution they come up with the 'landslip' they are careful to retain the natural beauty of the area for everyone as well as people like yourself.

So do I - but the most important consideration must be to be able to keep a route open for the residents of Lochcarron and the surrounding area who need to be able to get down to Kyle or Plockton for the schools, shopping, etc without a 150 mile diversion.

All the very best for the New year. I am off to have a dram or two.

And the same to you and yours, Bertie.
Slàinte :beer: