ENGLAND is being warned, by that BBC among others, that well in excess of 200,000 English properties may have to be abandoned or are in danger of isolation from the rising waters, reliably reported, as a result of governments failing to control CO2 emissions.
The number of Scottish communities that will become isolated is neither mentioned, planned for or cared about in London, but it is really important to us.
May I propose part of a solution in the form of an M898 extension, starting on the north side of the Clyde at the Erskine bridge, and taking the shortest “bridgable” route over the lochs Fyne and Awe, to the hills above Oban.
READ MORE: Glasgow to face increased flooding due to climate change, WHO warns
This would reduce the journey time from Glasgow to Oban to around 40 minutes, down from 3.5 hours. It would reduce the costs too, and be above the water line for the foreseeable future.
Currently, 90% or more of the area’s victuals come on roads that will soon – all too soon – be submerged.
This new road, a backbone of a new system above the impending waters, could of course be continued northwards, towards Fort William, often forgotten to be subjected to the same tides, sitting at the end of Loch Linnhe as it does.
It would also be Argyll’s first experience of a motorway, pulling it into the 21st century whether it liked it or not. (We are already a quarter of the way through it, almost.)
The new road just described would service parts of Scotland fairly well ignored up until now, and could be the start of resolving the rising tide situation, on the west coast anyway.
READ MORE: Climate change activists disrupt coal investor's 'sustainable' conference
It’s easy to forget about all the lochside towns that will be cut off, but this core “westbound” motorway (long overdue) would be the vital link to survival for these communities, including Helensburgh, Faslane, Lochgilphead, Cairndow, Inveraray, Melfort, Oban, Connel and many more, which rely on the coastal roads for everything.
The imponderable and slow creep of governmental awareness, let alone action, means that the problem will be upon us if we don’t act now.
We know there are lots of pressing matters, but this one presages catastrophe if ignored or tackled too late.
The cost of doing it MUST be weighed against the cost of not doing it. Time is short.
Christopher Bruce
Taynuilt
I WAS very pleased to read Catriona Grigg’s letter on Tuesday where she references Professor Richard Murphy’s views on an independent Scottish currency being higher rated than Sterling. Several years ago when I was in Sicily on holiday we were staying in Taormina. This is pre-euro currency and it was Italian lira at that time. I was running short of cash so went to the bureau de change, which was also the travel agent, named Doctor Fahrten (not a joke). The rates on the chalk board showed the terms for various currencies and Scottish pounds were slightly higher than English sterling.
I think the case is now rested!
Colin Wight
Arbroath
THE Scottish Tories, Labour and LibDems are all at it again. They lied in 2014 and created a vow that they did not deliver. The gold standard was fool’s gold. Time’s up, Unionists. If Scotland does not want independence, let’s have a referendum – what are you afraid of?
Glen Peters
Paisley
INTERESTING Fact Check on Tuesday regarding John Kay’s claim Scotland is destined for a currency “fiasco”. The even simpler response is based on the clue in the first paragraph. We shouldn’t prematurely create a currency, so his worst-case outcome – which is a possibility for all currencies anyway – will be avoided. We can only introduce our own currency when the time and conditions are right, and we cannot start making it until after independence.
Nick Cole
Meigle, Perthshire
REGARDING Peter MacKenzie’s letter about the value of reading (Jun 13). As a primary schoolboy I remember being encouraged by my parents to read the family tri-purpose table cover, which being changed on a daily basis always provided a wealth of different stories and articles. Today’s table cover being yesterday’s newspaper, destined to become tomorrow’s toilet paper hung from a nail in the “ootbye lavvie.”
Charles P Connor
via email
IN my young day “knackered” meant sexually exhausted – not a word heard in polite company or at a Kirk social. The NHS staff have worked their socks off throughout the pandemic and now the Health Secretary tells is they are “completely knackered”. Not an expression I would use but I do accept they are all completely exhausted. However, for any NHS staff who are indeed knackered, I say, “Where did you find the time and energy?” You have gone even higher up in my estimation!
Bill Drew
Kirriemuir
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel