South Ford causeway row

An island community is challenging Western Isles Council to reverse a recommendation not to improve a causeway where a family of five died.

A rock-filled road link over a tidal ford between South Uist and Benbecula acted like a dam during a deadly wild storm, forcing the surging sea to rise up and flood neighbouring villages in January 2005.

Archie and Murdina Macpherson died along with their two young children Hannah and Andrew, as well as Murdina's father Calum Campbell when their vehicles were overwhelmed by floodwater at Iochdar in South Uist.

Islanders are furious that the Comhairle’s transport committee has gone against opening up the causeway to allow the rising tide to flow through. The £20 million estimated price tag was deemed too expensive and not cost-effective.

Councillor Ronnie Mackinnon plans to raise the issue at the full council on Wednesday.

Mr Mackinnon said it was essential that the aim of opening up the causeway must not be dropped.

Davey Macpherson - father of Archie who died in the tragedy - says it is imperative sea channels are installed to stop the causeway acting as a dam.

Mr Macpherson said: “I don’t believe it would cost £20 million.

“We are trying our best to get that opening in the causeway to try and prevent it from happening from someone else. We don’t anyone to have that happen to them.”

Mr Macpherson believes three openings were originally planned but only one was built.

He has a design drawing of the causeway which states “three-span bridge” on the plan.

He suggests the openings were ditched on cost grounds when the causeway was constructed in the early 1980s.

Comhairle convenor Norman Macdonald, highlighted the Scottish Government will only contribute to flood prevention schemes if there is an adequate cost-benefit outcome.

Mr Macdonald said: “The council can only do what we are able to do.”

Installing sea channels would not obtain Scottish Government funding “so that is really what has driven the council to go for the option which does not include breaking up the causeway.”

Relatives of the lost family also seek a formal fatal accident inquiry into their deaths. They want the impact of the causeway and any changes to the original design to be a focal point of an inquiry.

South Ford causeway row to come before full council

21 April 2015