Thursday, February 22, 2007
Getting Around
I have been away from my computer for a while and trying to spend more time getting around the constituency. What always strikes me is what a large area the far north really is. Thurso is far from Inverness! This means road transport is all the more important and with acute concerns about job creation in Caithness and continual job losses at Dounreay, the local economy is dependent upon an infrastructure that can support and develop new jobs.
I also noticed driving down from Thurso to Inverness Airport a few weeks ago the inconsistency in fuel prices at local petrol stattions; there was a differential of over 8 pence per litre! Eight pence!! Far too much and quite unjustified. I understand from speaking to local people, there are also seasonal adjustments in petrol prices, for example, over Christmas some fuel stations put their prices up by as much as 3 pence. This is unacceptable and I estimate the difference is costing hard working familes well over GBP 350 a year. I shall be looking into this issue in further detail.
I am also concerned as a driver to note there are still a large number of lorries on the roads. With the growth in the number of supermarkets, it is very much a pity more of them are not using rail freight. It is unacceptable and dangerous for people to be stuck behind large lorries on the A9. I shall be looking into this issue as well.
Despite these complications to life, the remarkable thing about travelling around Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross is the outstanding beauty of the landscape. I spent a wonderful Sunday morning moutain biking on the Highland Wildcat Trail in Sutherland the other week and was invigorated and amazed by the great attributes to the local economy. But physical beauty alone is not enough if more jobs are to be created in the far noth.
I also noticed driving down from Thurso to Inverness Airport a few weeks ago the inconsistency in fuel prices at local petrol stattions; there was a differential of over 8 pence per litre! Eight pence!! Far too much and quite unjustified. I understand from speaking to local people, there are also seasonal adjustments in petrol prices, for example, over Christmas some fuel stations put their prices up by as much as 3 pence. This is unacceptable and I estimate the difference is costing hard working familes well over GBP 350 a year. I shall be looking into this issue in further detail.
I am also concerned as a driver to note there are still a large number of lorries on the roads. With the growth in the number of supermarkets, it is very much a pity more of them are not using rail freight. It is unacceptable and dangerous for people to be stuck behind large lorries on the A9. I shall be looking into this issue as well.
Despite these complications to life, the remarkable thing about travelling around Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross is the outstanding beauty of the landscape. I spent a wonderful Sunday morning moutain biking on the Highland Wildcat Trail in Sutherland the other week and was invigorated and amazed by the great attributes to the local economy. But physical beauty alone is not enough if more jobs are to be created in the far noth.
# posted by John McKendrick @ 5:57 AM 
