https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/202 ... h-landslip
Teacher now travelling by boat to educate children at two different school sites on either side of impasse
Donna Ferguson
Thu 2 Nov 2023 23.42 GMT
Last modified on Fri 3 Nov 2023 00.00 GMT
Businesses in a remote peninsula of Scotland are fighting to survive and children are unable to attend their local school nearly a month after record-breaking rainfall caused a severe landslip, which cut off a vital road link to the wider peninsula.
The Craignish peninsula in Argyll was battered by heavy rain in early October, causing a landslip on the A816 near Ardfern which left 6,000 tonnes of debris covering the road and rendered it impassable.
Weeks later, it is estimated that more than 4,000 tonnes of the debris still remains on the road, blocking the peninsula’s access to its nearest town, Lochgilphead.
Local people still face weeks of disruption as a result of the landslip, with some primary school pupils who live outside the peninsula unable to get to their school. Their teacher is having to travel by boat to spend time with them at another school site.
Road access to the rest of Scotland is available from the north, with drivers having to take a long, 90-minute route round to reach Lochgilphead.
Businesses in the area say they are facing a “fight for survival” with many still feeling the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis.
A group led by a charity, the Craignish Community Company, is vowing to do all it can to help businesses get through the disruption.