An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Sruth > Volume 1 > No. 23, 8 February 1968

I S3Z.
Newspaper of current Events in the Highlands,
the Islands and in Scotland
DI-ARDAOIN, 8mh AM GEARRAN 1968
THURSDAY, 8th FEBRUARY 1968
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NEW HOPE FOR BALLACHULISH
The case for the private financing of a non-profit
making toll bridge at Ballachulish is strongly argued
to be a viable project by the Scottish Council (Develop¬
ment and Industry), who see the area as kernel to the
economic revival of the West Highlands.
The report has provoked a great deal of thought
since it was published at the end of January, and the
Secretary of State for Scotland, Mr William Ross, M.P..
has appointed consulting engineers to make a detailed
report on the practicability of a roadl bridge at Ballac¬
hulish.
■a The Scottish Council recommends the immediate
11 setting up of a non-profit making Board which would
pi borrow money for the construction and operation of
ffi the Bridge. As yet there is no provision for such a
r| project under its road programme up to 1972. However.
»even if money were immediately available from gov-
m crnment sources, the Council still prefers the idea of
a privately financed bridge.
„ It is estimated that a toll bridge could be com¬
pleted by the end of 1971 at a cost of either £965,000
(with a 45 feet navigational clearance), or £1,175,000
(with 60 feet). A four shilling basic toll — equivalent
to the present fare for vehicles under 13 feet crossing
the ferry — would, assuming a five per cent, annual
I growth in traffic, yield about £130,000 by 1972; a 2/6
dl toll (10/- for heavy traffic and reduced prices for regular
n car users) would yield £105,000. The total cost of the
id bridge, including the interest, should be amortised in
■ about 10 yea.rs with a 4/- toll or about 15 years with
2)6 toll.
The report points out that, at present, motorists
tiavelling on the main arterial route of the West High¬
lands, between Fort William and Oban, are faced with
the choice of a long detour round Loch Leven or of
using the ferry, which is subject to delays, weight limi¬
tations and daylight operation only.
The Council’s report calls for a sub-soil survey
and an origin-destination survey >f traffic, and the
Secretary of State is accordingly asking the consultants
H to report not only on the physical feasibility and cost
IS of construction, but also on the economic benefits mi
|S presen: and potential traffic, including the impact of
IB the bridge on tourist and general development in the
1 erea.
In the case of the Fort William Pulp Mill, the
il extra cost of driving heavy vehicles round ihe loch
i| might be as high as £40,000 - £50,000 a year by the
i| mid: 1970s. If the benefits to the mill of a bridge were
to be capitalised, the report says, the figure would
■probably be between £300.000 and £350,000 — or be¬
tween a quarter and a third of the total construction
cost.
Already a popular venue for tourists, the Aviemore Centre has been chosen for the National Mod, 1969 (See pp. 10 &11)
SABHALADH£716 MIHLIONN
JVnt. Griff or A Son
Limited
20 HAMILTON STREET
INVERNESS. TEL. 34343
Inverness Cream
SCOTCH WHISKY
Tha cosgais na rioghachc! gu
bhi air a ghearradh £300
muilionn ann an 1968/69 agus
£416 muilionn an ath bhli-
adhna. Se £15 muilionn deug
a thatar a gearradh an Alba sa
cheud bhliadhna is £23 muibonn
sa bhliadhna na dheidh. So na
seirbhisean a thatar ag gearradh;
tighean, rathaidean, foghlum,
slainte, polais, dicn seirbhis
(civil defence). Arm a bhi feu
chainn ri Dion a chumail air
feadh an t-saoghail agus cosgais
air Seirbhisean na Stake a dol
nan teine bha an rioghachd a
deanamh ni gun choitas. Se
£6,200 muilionn a bha sinn a
cur a mach ann an 1955 air
cosgais an riaghaltais, nan sior-
ramachdan, agus tionnsgalan
naiseanta. (Chaneii an riabh
air fiachan air a thoirt a steach)
Ach tha sinn an nis a cosg
£14,300 muilionn Barrachd air
na tha sinn a cosnadh. Sann sna
seirbhisean soirbheis a tha an
t-ardachadh is motha corr air
£2,000 muilionn mar ’a dh’ain.
micheadh air an t-seachdainn
a chaidh. Tha cosgais air
peannsamean air a dhol suas tri
kite ann an 12 bhliadhna, tha
foghlum ag cosg £1900 mui-
lion-bhatar a cosg £550 m, ann
1955. O 1968 gu 1980 tha duil
gun teid aireamh cloinne bho
5-14 suas o 8,400,000 gu 10,
500,000. Daoine os cionn 65
suas 600,000, mnathan as cionn
60, 580,000. Cuiridh so fheia
cosgaisean suas agus tha sinn a
toirt an aire gu bheil corr is
dara leth na tha sinn,a cosg a
dol air tuarasdail seirbhis a pho.
buill, tidsearan, polais, dotair-
ean, nursaichean agus daoine
eile nar seirbhis. Nach saoileadh
thu fhein gum faiceadh aiid-
eigin gum feum sinn barrachd
oibreach air na seirbhisean sin
no cha bhi airgiod ann a phaig-
heas iad. Ach se an ni is neoin-
aiche cho daor sa tha an riag-
haltas ag cur airgiod air iasad
chaneii daoine eile air an t-
saoghal a phaigheas riabh cho
ard air an airgiod aca fhein.
Can gu bheil thu fhein a tcgail
tighe is £3,000 no: agad. A
bheil thu dol a thogail riabh
8 per cent, de na tha thu cuir
a mach? Uill se t-airgiod fhein
a tha a togail sgeim dealain
agus air an airgiod so tha an
riaghaltas ag iarraidh 8 per cent.
Ann an 12 bhliadhna tha thu
air can 96 per cent, a phaig-
headh ann an riabh, Co dha-
dhuit fhein? An dean thu so
led thigh fhein? Ma ni cha tig
an latha a thig thu a liachan.
Ciamar a ni an rioghachd air
a chaochladh? Shaoilinn gur e
cho saor sa b’urrainn don riag¬
haltas airgiod a leigeil a mach
gum b’e ar cuid e. Saoi! de
a chanadh an World Bank nan
iarradh sinn an aor. seorsa air¬
giod sa thug iad do Seapan an
aeidh a chogaidh gun tigeadh
an aon phiseach oimn?
EXTENSION TO UIST
ROCKET RANGE
Fears are spreading in South
Uist that the Defence Ministry’s
decision to extend the missile
range to test the latest weapon
systems could end crofthig in the
Gerinish area.
About 1.350 acres of additional
land will be required ro meet the
Ministry’s requirement and about
19 crofters in Gerinish will be
affected.
Loss of Arable Land
This new move may mean the
loss of good arable land and a
reduction in stock is inevitable.
The mere possibility of additional
local civilian labour being re¬
cruited for the missile range is
poor compensation for the loss of
crofting land. At present 100
local civilians work at the range.
The South Uist development
will entail the move of military
personnel from the Anglesey
T rials Establishment to the Outer
Isles.
Crofters will not decide on any
action until they have had a meet¬
ing with a Land Office official.