Scots residents say roads are 'like a war zone' as massive potholes take over town

Scots drivers have slammed Highland roads as being "like a war zone" as they've been left dodging massive potholes.

With suspensions collapsed and tyres shredded, locals are calling on Highland Council to fix the monster potholes in Caithness. One such resident is Elizabeth Jones, 43, who suffered a broken suspension in her Volkswagen Touran after she hit a monster pothole, costing her £177 to have repaired.

It's the second time in two years that the Thurso resident has damaged her car due to the appalling conditions of the roads in Caithness. The mum of four and unpaid carer to her two autistic children claimed she's been driving in Caithness since 2000 and has noticed the roads drastically deteriorate since.

Speaking to the Record, Elizabeth said: Since moving to Turso last year, I had to keep going over the same terrible patch of craters at the junction of Ormlie Hill, Castle Green Road and Lovers Lane. It is a major junction as it's three roads all coming together and everybody uses it.

"In order to go to town I have to pass through that patch of craters, it's very hard to judge it and every time I hear and feel the potholes as I drive through it."

She added: "I then started to hear a weird noise from the car, so I take it to the garage and they said your rear shocker has gone and they confirmed it would definitely be because of the roads. It cost me £177 for a rear shocker, and that was a shock."

Despite requesting a form to receive compensation from the Highland Council, Elizabeth claims she's not heard anything back.

Iain Gregory, a former area police commander, and co-founder of the campaign group Caithness Roads Recovery, claimed the potholes portray a “patchwork quilt of neglect”.

He told the Daily Record: "There has been an evident and constant decline in the Highland Council maintained roads infrastructure, which affects the rest of the roads within the county. hey are so bad they affect lives, lifelines and livelihoods. It's not just a few potholes, we have an almost total collapse of the road infrastructure.

"Every day we hear from people who have sustained expenses due to damage which can amount to a week's wages and sometimes even a month's wages. We've heard stories of over two thousand pounds bills, and several hundred pounds is not in the least bit unusual.

"It's like a war zone." He added that the poor state of the roads made individuals within the county feel "marginalised, ignored and neglected".

Cllr Raymond Bremner, Leader of The Highland Council said: “Roads are a clear priority for communities not just in Caithness but across the Highlands and this has been a theme in feedback from public engagement.

“We have a local road network stretching some 6,600km. This extra capital investment in roads will further enhance the significant level of investment over the past 3 years, which is in addition to the roads revenue budget of £35m per year which includes allocations for winter maintenance, roads repairs and engineering services.

"There are a significant number of schemes across the Highlands that can be brought forward into an agreed programme for roads investment, which will be informed by the agreed allocation formulas.

“Supporting sustainable and resilient communities is at the heart of our Council Programme and our investment plans reflect this commitment.”

It comes as locals erected a sign reading “Welcome to the Moon — caution craters” over an official “Welcome to Caithness” signpost at Ord of Caithness on the county’s boundary with Sutherland.

According to reports, in 2023 The Highland Council received a whopping 899 requests for compensation relating to pothole damage, however only 199 individuals have received any compensation.

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