Jamie Stone, MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, has called on the Scottish Government to address what he described as the “obvious and urgent” state of roads across the Highlands.
Speaking during a debate on rural infrastructure, he criticised what he sees as a failure to provide adequate funding for repairs in remote areas where reliance on cars is high.
Mr Stone pointed to his own recent experience, describing how he lost a tyre after hitting a pothole while driving between Dundonnell and Corrieshalloch.
He also highlighted the case of a constituent who suffered around £1000 worth of damage after striking a pothole in 2023, underlining the financial impact on residents.
Across Scotland, more than 400,000 potholes have been reported over the past four years, according to figures obtained through Freedom of Information requests.
Early figures for the current year already show more than 30,751 reported defects, suggesting the problem is continuing at pace.
In the Highlands, the challenge is more acute, with a larger road network and fewer transport alternatives placing greater pressure on infrastructure.
For many communities, a car is not a convenience but a necessity, making road conditions a direct issue for work, healthcare and daily life.
Mr Stone said:
“The Scottish Government has had a significant amount of money from Westminster, yet precious little of it goes to the Highlands.
“Despite living in a remote area, where the necessity for a car is arguably much greater than it is for those living in the central belt, public amenities are still being neglected.
“The Scottish Government may think the problems in the Far North are rather out-of-sight out-of-mind, but I can assure them that when you’re left waiting for hours at the side of the road, with poor signal, worrying about how you’ll get back home or even to work for the rest of the week, the issue is both obvious and urgent.
“The cost and practicality of taking the reasonable measures to fix these issues is small compared to the damage they cause, so really there is no excuse for inaction.”
The debate adds to growing pressure on ministers to address road maintenance, particularly in rural and island areas where the impact of poor infrastructure can be more severe.
As reports of potholes continue to rise, the condition of Highland roads remains a persistent concern for drivers and communities alike.
Calls are growing for urgent investment in Highland roads as pothole numbers rise, with concerns mounting over safety, cost and the daily impact on communities that rely heavily on cars.
