The Highland Council has once again urged the Scottish Executive to plough more resources into the trunk road winter maintenance contract, which is run by private contractor, BEAR Scotland, to avoid further chaos on the roads.

Councillors fear that the public has lost confidence in the ability of BEAR to adequately clear trunk roads of snow and keep roads open. They say this impacting on the economy of the area because visitors may be reluctant to travel to the Highlands during winter months and local businesses are being hit because staff are not able to get to and from work.

Vice Convener Alison Magee and Roads Community and Protective Services Chairman Charlie King expressed the council’s concerns when they were among a delegation of council representatives from the North and East of Scotland who met Depute Transport Minister Lewis MacDonald in Perth to discuss the problems being experienced on the trunk roads.

They pointed out that the maximum number of ploughs that BEAR were able to muster on the trunk roads system in The Highland Council area was 26. When the Council ran the contract, a total of 55 ploughs were available to be deployed on trunk roads in adverse conditions.

Councillor King said: "We continue to have severe reservations about the ability of BEAR to cope with the demands of keeping our trunk roads open in wintry conditions. They simply do not have sufficient plant to cope. This has been painfully evident during the three periods of significant snow falls this winter. They are not providing the same service as the council provided last year. If they say they are complying with the terms of their contract, then the contract is urgent need of amendment.

"Mr MacDonald was made fully aware of the widespread concerns of local councils and of the pressing need for additional resources to be dedicated to the contract."

Councillor Magee, who is the transport spokesperson for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, said her concern was the public’s loss of confidence in BEAR’s ability to clear the roads of snow and keep lifeline routes open.

She said: "The real fear is that this is now impacting on the economy of the Highlands, both through visitors thinking twice about coming here during the winter months and local businesses losing out because staff cannot get to and from work.