Those statistics came from local councillor Robert Macintyre, who has written to Andy Law, the director of operational services at Argyll and Bute Council to complain about the "unacceptable situation".

"As recently as September 2005, only 14 months ago, there were nine employees," Cllr Macintyre told us.

"Since then four good men have left the road squad and it is ridiculous to expect the remaining five to deal with all the road issues and problems that torrential rain, floods, choked drains, culverts and so on bring.

"As at April 1, 1996, I remember we had 14 roadmen on the island. The five remaining men are now working under extreme pressure and are doing really well, but this situation cannot continue, so I have asked Mr Law what he intends to do about it.

"In short, he should take on four men. I am certain that the roads depots at Lochgilphead, Oban, Dunoon, Helensburgh and Campbeltown - the other major centres in Argyll and Bute have not suffered a 64 per cent drop in numbers.

"It is ironic that, while we see this large percentage drop in the numbers employed on Bute's roads over the last ten years, the number of full-time equivalent posts within the council has gone up from 3,811 to 4,362.

"That is a 14.46 per cent increase. It makes you wonder where our priorities lie."

On being informed of Cllr Macintyre's concerns, Mr Law told us: "We look at the demand for the service on Bute and are curently engaged in an appraisal for 'Street Scene' - the council's plan to bring together roads, ground maintenance and street cleaning, which would create one squad for the island.

"There is not sufficient demand for a specialist team to look after street lighting and road dressing on the island alone as well as a street scene squad so the plan is to have a specialist team which would work across the council's boundaries. It could be based on Bute, in Cowal or in Helensburgh.

"We hope to have the appraisal completed in the spring in time for the new financial year and we are looking at Cllr Macintyre's comments to see if there are enough men on Bute and, if not, what steps we will require to take to rectify the situation.

"However, in the meantime two jobs will shortly be filled with another two in the pipeline so we are aiming to have a strength of nine in two months' time.

"We are covering for any possible shortage of drivers for gritting by training up a refuse driver."

(This story was published in the December 8, 2006 issue of The Buteman.)