A planning inquiry into a proposed upgrade of a notorious northern stretch of the A9 is due to get underway tomorrow.
The inquiry for Berriedale Braes has been triggered by an objection from a local landowner who is concerned about losing access to his property because of the safety scheme.
Tom Johnston and his wife Wilhelmina own “The Haven”, a house on the shore at Berriedale, which takes access from a private road which joins the A9 Inverness to Thurso route, close to the Braes hairpin.
The only other access to the property comes from a footbridge.
The Haven has fallen into disrepair and while Inverness-based Mr Johnston said he has plans to renovate the property, he claimed he would not be able to access it with heavy goods using the footbridge.
In documents due to be put before the planning inquiry, he said the road can be used safely “by observing good road safety practice”.
He added losing his private road would “result in significant loss of amenity and detriment for the use and to the value of the property”.
Transport Scotland has consistently argued that the private access is “not safe” because of where it joins the A9.
In his written evidence, David Webster, project director on behalf of Transport Scotland, said the access road has a gradient of 42.4% where it joins the A9 and regularly exceeds 20%.
He said the safety measures on the road were “entirely justified, reasonable and a necessary safety requirement to allow the scheme to be promoted”, while maintaining the existing footbridge as main access would be “reasonably convenient”.
The case will be considered by Scottish Government reporter Frances McChlery who will visit the site with both parties this afternoon.
The inquiry, which is scheduled to last two days, will begin tomorrow at Helmsdale Community Centre.
