The Argyll First group of councillors has got its campaign to petition for bringing the A83 – Argyll’s most important road, up to standard.
You will find hard copy petitions in various retail, business and public service outlets – and you can email your support by using the instructions avaiable when you click on the ‘Sign for the A83′ box on the top of the left hand column on this screen.
They want – and Argyll needs – businesses, residents, visitors, and all users of this major arterial road to contribute their support – whether they live in the area or not.
Please support this campaign and recruit support for it.
The Argyll First campaign statement
‘Argyll First would invite the whole community of Argyll and Bute to unite with one voice and demand that a firm plan of action is put in place to address the many outstanding road issues currently affecting the A83.
‘The continual year on year disruption to businesses and to the rural way of life cannot continue. We MUST make a stand and the time is now.
‘We want to see every MSP, Councillor, Community Council, Haulier, business, and member of the public show their support by signing the Petition. We want companies who are outwith Argyll and Bute but are affected by the current situation at the Rest and be Thankful to show their support.
‘Key points of the campaign are:-
1. RESOLVE THE SITUATION AT THE REST AND BE THANKFUL
We have continually raised this issue over the past 4 or so years at various Council meetings.
We have suggested that the forestry road which runs parallel to the Rest could be upgraded and a convoy system put in place in order that traffic could circumvent any landslide on the rest. This would save the costly detours which are currently in place.
2. THE PINCH POINTS WHICH CURRENTLY EXIST AT INVERARY AND BETWEEN LOCHGILPHEAD AND TARBERT
These areas have continually been hotspots for accidents thus causing the road to be closed for considerable periods of time. This again has a detrimental effect on both business and the general public.
3. THE LACK OF PROPER CROSSING POINTS AT THE VILLAGES OF ARDRISHAIG AND TARBERT.
Both these communities have lobbied long and hard but to no avail. It is important that these issues are recognised as
being part and parcel of the problems that exist with the A83.
4. THE TRUNKING OF THE ROAD FROM KENNACRAIG TO CAMPBELTOWN.
‘It is imperative that the government take action and trunk this section of the A83.
Machrihanish is deemed to be a future centre of excellence for the renewable industry. This cannot happen with a substandard road. Substantial l investment is required on this section of road and only the government has the capability of providing this. Again this is an area which is considered an accident hotspot given the numerous accidents which have occurred over the years .
‘People continually complain about the problems associated with the A83. This campaign gives everyone the opportunity
to once and for all let their voices be heard. Lets join together and make this campaign count. Sign the petition.’
The trunk road ‘pinch points’ mentioned above are the most obvious, but they’re not the only ones. Either side of Arrochar there are stretches of substandard width – one, approaching from Inveraray, on the stretch from the speed limit signs across Succoth bridge and past the filling station, the other, approaching from Glasgow, on the stretch between the two junctions for Arrochar & Tarbet Station.
Neither of these stretches have any warning at all, which is very strange, as trucks and buses cannot pass each other without slowing down to a crawl. The Corran bridge at Lochgilphead is also devoid of warning signs, occasionally causing drivers who don’t know the road to drive into the path of large vehicles approaching from the other direction.
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Hopefully this is something everyone can get behind.
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How about one of those e-petitions? Does the Scottish Government have one like the UK does? Just an idea as it might force the debate a bit more?
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For Steve: Argyll First checked this out and discovered that the Scottish Government will not have its e-petition facility ready until close to Easter 2012 – hence the Heath Robinson necessity of emails.
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1 – Put a link on your Facebook page.
2 – Email everybody in your address book with the links to this article and also to
http://forargyll.com/support-the-a83-campaig/
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Hi, this is great news that you folks are going to speak up about the A83.
How many people have died in RTA’s this last decade as result of poor road surfacing and infrastructure which they wouldn’t tolerate anywhere else in the UK?
What about a mass rally to Holyrood and make demands of the Scottish Exec?
Good luck with your campaign, its well worth the fight despite the current fiscal climate.
regards
PG
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why should a petition be necessary? if government was doing what it is supposed to do IE spending ALL of the revenue collected from vehicle road taxes on our roads no petition would be necessary.to NOT do so surely must be fraud.
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