News / Investment in roads is falling short
CUTS TO the budget for maintaining Shetland’s high-quality road network may be “building up problems that are going to cost us in the future”, councillors have warned.
New findings indicate that Shetland Islands Council is spending less than half the sum required to maintain the roads in their present condition.
The “backlog” figure required to bring all the islands’ roads up to scratch now stands at £50.5 million, more than double the level in 2011.
A programme of road works to remedy that would cost in excess of £3.5 million a year – but the local authority is spending only £1.66 million, roads official Dave Coupe told Wednesday’s meeting of the environment and transport committee.
That is a considerable fall on the peak maintenance level in 2010/11, when £2.34 million was spent on resurfacing, patching and reconstructing isles roads.
It follows a warning last year from now-departed infrastructure chief Phil Crossland that several major roads in the isles would reach the end of their shelf life at a similar time.
Many of the highways were built in a hurry during the initial 1970s oil rush and are now simultaneously declining amid a second oil and gas boom which has brought more vehicles onto the roads.
South Mainland councillor George Smith called for a detailed report “setting out the investment that would be required in order to maintain and improve our network… to understand the challenges that are facing this council and successive councils”.
Central ward member Davie Sandison was worried about the cumulative impact of neglecting to repair things like potholes over a number of years.
“I think there’s plenty of evidence from all over Shetland that we are building up problems that are going to cost us in the future,” he said.
“From the point of view of the general economy of Shetland, and the ability to move people around to get on with business, it’s extremely important to get a good handle on it.”
Meanwhile talks are continuing with French energy giant Total aimed at ensuring it meets the cost of any damage caused by the heavy goods vehicles which have been transporting materials to build its new gas plant at Sullom Voe.
Once final survey results for the last financial year are completed negotiations will take place to determine what contribution Total will make towards road repairs.
Infrastructure director Maggie Sandison said a planning condition stipulated that the company “must work with us to secure an agreement about the damage on the roads… and how we would be reimbursed”.
Lerwick South councillor Jonathan Wills wanted to know how confident officials were of reaching an agreement, and what sanctions could be levelled at Total if it did not meet its obligations.
“The gas doesn’t flow until they’ve paid up,” interjected council leader Gary Robinson. “It’s quite a good sanction.”
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