A Sutherland pensioner has won his battle with Highland Council over a “dangerous” flight of steps near his home.
The local authority has now carried out urgent repairs and has agreed to reconfigure or replace the stairs at a sheltered housing complex in Ardgay.
Resident Bill Ross raised concerns about the safety of the steps, which lead down to the main road near the village shop and cafe.
The retired surveyor even went as far as produced detailed drawing for a replacement flight of steps after he realised that the existing pathway did not comply with building regulations.
Last night, the 72-year-old was celebrating the “major achievement” of forcing the council to take action.
Mr Ross said: “I regard it as a very significant achievement to have produced a public announcement by the Highland Council within three weeks, after years of intransigent refusal to act, that these steps will be rebuilt before the coming winter.
“It is a tacit acknowledgement that the grounds of legal fact on which I have built my case have validity.”
Mr Ross was concerned about the unequal “risings and goings” – the vertical and horizontal sections which make up the stairs – and his proposed alternative involves two flights of steps of a more even style, with a central rest landing in between.
He has now stepped back and handed the project over to the Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust in order to return to his hobby of wood carving.
Development manager Helen Houston said: “I am delighted that the council has acknowledged the obvious danger associated with these steps and that a contract will be let to ensure that the new steps will comply with current building regulations.
“The need for safe passage to the pavement is important given the disabilities of the tenants living in Oakwood Place.
“The use of the path has significantly increased due to the existence of the new shop and cafe on the opposite side of the road.
“This could therefore have resulted even more incidents on these steps.”
A spokeswoman for the council said: “An urgent inspection was carried out and some immediate repairs were completed.
“We are also looking at options for reconfiguring or replacing the steps and further work will be carried out as soon as practicable.”
