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Scots 'true grit' query
Page 10
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• Hauliers and politicians are alleging that winter maintenance standards on Scottish trunk roads have slumped to unacceptable levels since the work was contracted out to the private sector.
Gritting and snow clearance was transferred from local councils to Bear Scotland and Amey Highways in February last year.
Francis Fraser, managing director of general haulier Fraser & Sons of Dingwall, near Inverness, says: "One or two of my drivers have complained of cars going off the road on sheet ice because riot enough salt is being put on. The councils used to put so much on that the wagons were white when they dried out."
Last week the issue was raised in the Scottish Parliament, Scottish National Party transport spokesman Kenny MacAskill
warned that the use of private companies was causing havoc and could cost lives.
He listed a series of complaints about inadequate road maintenance across Scotland this winter, including Ice on the Al and closure of the A9 at Blair Atholl due to snow.
But Scottish Executive deputy transport minister Lewis Macdonald says the terms of the new contracts are essentially the same as the old ones. He claims there is no measurable evidence that roads are being closed more frequently due to poor weather conditions.
Gavin Scott, Scottish policy manager for the Freight Transport Association, says: Our members are saying that the quality of gritting and snow clearing is not up to what it was but I can't honestly say we have had many complaints."