THE saying it's an ill wind that blows nobody good usually implies that a misfortune for one should benefit the other.

That will be contested by the people of Skye, however, who have been feeling the draught from the increasingly frequent closure of their main link with the mainland.

The islanders have faded major inconvenience and loss of income due to the Skye Bridge being closed to high-sided vehicles almost 100 times between last September and January, and closed to all vehicles 14 times. This is especially galling when one considers that in the previous two years, the bridge had been closed to all vehicles because of bad weather on only one occasion.

The weather does change of course, but not to such an extent. Suspicion then naturally falls on the procedures and equipment used to decide when to put up the barriers. It is to be hoped that the review being undertaken by Transport Scotland will provide satisfactory answers.

The crossing, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has not been without controversy, particularly with regard to tolls, but is now a vital and valued artery. As the old song nearly goes: let the wind blow high, let the wind blow low ... but let the Skye Bridge stay open a little more often.