This is a one time entry to show what is happening in Inverness today. For more information please see the web site at bottom. It just to show that Inverness is not a little quiet town and that the Highlands are not without issues. This is not meant to start a thread, and no questions or discussion will be carried out by me so don't bother to answer. It is for information and a look at modern Inverness. Dave Protest convoys cause big tailbacks by John Ross The Highlands got its first taste of direct action in support of the fuel protest yesterday and is steeling itself for more of the same today. All major roads into Inverness were blocked yesterday morning by demonstrators, causing huge tailbacks behind more than 100 slow-moving lorries and tractors. As the protest escalated one fuel supplier predicted that the crisis may force some rural filling stations out of business. Queues of traffic built up on the A9 going into the Highland capital from the north and south, as well as the A82 from Fort William, the A96 from Aberdeen and the old A9 from Beauly. The go-slow convoys set off about 8 am and reached the Kessock Bridge around 9am, causing an eight-mile tailback of commuters. After a rally at the Inverness Caledonian Thistle stadium, the convoy later brought Inverness town centre to a standstill with a 15-minute procession through the main streets led by a police escort. Police reported the mood as one of "peaceful protest" and there were no arrests. Emergency vehicles were allowed through the lines of vehicles, including ambulances taking patients to Raigmore Hospital, the largest in the Highlands. One man, from a nursing home outside Inverness, died in hospital despite traffic being set aside to allow the ambulance through. Insp Alistair Clark, of Northern Constabulary, said: "Everything went as well as could be expected. There were delays but it was well publicised in advance and, apart from that, there were no problems." Protesters also targeted the main oil deport at Inverness harbour where fuel for BP, Shell, Esso and Texaco is brought in by coastal tankers from the BP refinery at Grangemouth. They were maintaining a 24-hour presence and plan a new round of action today. However, some fuel did get through and supplies were patchy across the region last night. Some filling stations were forced to close having run dry and were unable to secure fresh deliveries. Others were either out of diesel or unleaded petrol or both and rationing was in force. Fresh deliveries meant there were new supplies at Thurso, Dornoch, Nairn, Portree, Dingwall and Kyle. However rationing was in place at outlets at Ullapool, Oban, Lochgilphead and at Inverness, while the only filling station at Campelltown remained closed. The crisis has yet to hit the Western Isles with Stornoway receiving fresh supplies of fuel by sea direct from Grangemouth yesterday. Billy Laing, managing director of Elgin-based Gleaner Oils, which distributes fuel to stations around the Highlands, said: "We managed to do a'milk round' of some rural stations on the west coast and Caithness. These stations in rural areas are very fragile anyway and we must look after them. "They were very glad to see us today but I don't know what tomorrow will bring. However, if this crisis carries on I am concerned about the sustainability of some of these stations which provide a service to small communities. It is having a damaging effect and some could close. We just don't want that to happen." Yesterday's action delayed a sitting of the High Court at Inverness when Lord Phillip was held up by protesters on the A9, while three prisoners arrived late from Glasgow. Raigmore Hospital has so far been unaffected by the crisis but management drew up contingency plans to ensure patients needing urgent treatment and operations could attend. A spokeswoman said: "No clinics have been cancelled so far and all work including peripheral clinics will continue as normal at present." Emergency services said they had not been affected so far. The main bus companies said they had enough fuel for a few more days, although some services may be restricted and train services are running as normal. Highland Council has told staff it has a reasonable supply of diesel which should enable it to deliver essential services over the next few days. Staff have been told to make only essential journeys and cancel meetings which can be re-arranged for a later date. A spokesman said there had been little disruption to school transport. However, a bus taking four pupils from Laide to Gairloch High School will not run. Also, due to anticipated action today , three vehicles taking pupils with special educational needs from Ross-shire to Inverness will not operate. The Scotsman, Thursday, 14 September 2000 http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/scotland.cfm?id=afdasc&d=news&c=scotland&s=0 ____________________________________________________________