More than 400, 000 trees have been planted on the mountain above the Rest and Be Thankful in Argyll, but this should have been done years ago, argues Herald columnist Alan Simpson

As it winds it’s way up Glen Croe below the Arrochar Alps, the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful is one of Scotland’s most beautiful roads.

Once over the viewpoint, the road slow passes through the hills before offering a grand vista of Loch Fyne, where it follows most of the way down en route to the Kintyre peninsula and Campbeltown.

It is easy to see why the road is so popular with day trippers but recently, it has become the source of much anger due to the regularity of landslips closing it to all traffic.

This being 21st century Scotland, then you would think a simple solution would have been found by now to end the ongoing situation.

But this being 21st century Scotland with a propensity for failing to tackle any sort of transport mishaps, of course a solution has yet to be found - despite it being highlighted 18 years ago.

Since then, ministers, through their Transport Scotland quango, have wasted over £80m over more than a decade on failed solutions to the landslide issue.

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