Road repairs hit by tar shortage following trade sanctions against Russia
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Pothole repairs in Sutherland and across the rest of the Highland Council area are grinding to a halt as a result of the UK's trade sanctions against Russia, it has been claimed.
It is understood that all tarring and chipping work has had to be put on hold by the local authority because of a lack of bitumen – one of the products no longer being imported from Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
“We had a big tarring programme and a chipping programme and everything has been stopped,” a source in the council roads department said.
“Even contractors can't get tar – they are trying to source other stuff but they can't do it.
“We can't get bitumen, we can't get cold tar... There's absolutely nothing.
“So there will be no potholes or anything filled for the foreseeable future. Everything has ground to a halt.”
The source said workers had been given smaller tasks to keep them “ticking over”.
He pointed out that the whole local authority area would be affected.
“This will be the whole of the Highland Council. We were wondering why it hadn't come out yet,” the source said.
“It was going to be potholes forever and a day and tarring forever and a day, but it has been hit on the head. The roads are just going to get worse and worse. That's the truth.”
There are about 28 council road workers in Caithness.
A Highland Council spokesperson said: "Road surfacing materials (both permanent and temporary repair material) incorporate bitumen which is a petrochemical product.
"Given the current international issues, supplies of bitumen may be difficult to source. Highland Council is currently identifying the scale of any issue and also what mitigation measures may need to be implemented."
Councillor Raymond Bremner (Wick and East Caithness) said: "I was made aware of the situation on Tuesday. The council has become aware of the issue with the chain supply given that it has its own tar plant on the Isle of Skye which requires bitumen.
"I’ve asked for the council to let me know as soon as possible what the reality of the situation is and what alternative actions can be put in place. I know that a briefing is being put together as a matter of urgency.
"This appears to be obviously an issue that won’t just affect Highland Council but many other companies and local authorities UK-wide.
"Many folk will rightly be concerned about this, which appears to be as a result of the war in Ukraine and the imposition of trade sanctions against Russia. It’s a truly awful situation for those in Ukraine affected by war.
"I hope we can put the issues in context while the council looks to mitigate the impact on our local community. I await information on further developments."
