Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, who has been pushing for safety measures to be introduced around the railway underpass in Aviemore town centre, is pleased to be advised that work on installing new lighting in the area will commence at the end of October.
The MSP took the issue up with Highland Council back in December 2020 after being contacted by a concerned constituent. Others have also since complained to the MSP about how unsafe the area is, particularly during the winter months and during periods of heavy rain.
Mrs Grant, who visited the area to see the situation for herself shared her constituents concerns and echoed calls for the burn area itself to be cleared of mud and leaves whilst waiting for the new lighting to be installed. Some works were carried out on the burn to drop the water level through the underpass at the beginning of this year which did go some way to helping the problem with high water levels adding risk in the area.
The MSP, who also successfully pressed for lighting along the route which runs parallel to the railway line and connects Osprey Grange, Dalnabay and Silverglades to the town centre said “Constituents had very real concerns about using the area, particularly during periods of heavy rain fall and during winter months, so I am pleased that the lighting will be installed before winter really kicks in.”
She said “The old lighting was beyond any temporary repair and Covid saw a delay in getting access to the lighting equipment required to make the area safer.
Having persevered in pushing Highland Council to install new lighting Mrs Grant said “The new lighting will be mounted on the roof of the tunnel so shouldn’t suffer from the same issues once installed. However as it is complete replacement rather than repair the works will take a bit longer than a normal repair but should be completed by mid November.
She concluded “I’m sure the work on the burn and the new lights will provide a lot more security for people using the area.”
Picture courtesy of Strathspey & Badenoch Herald