Talks have broken down between Scottish transport chiefs and campaigners fighting against the introduction of average speed cameras on the A9.
It now appears likely that the protesters will push ahead with plans to stage a controversial rolling roadblock between Inverness and Perth.
Efforts by the A9 Average Speed Cameras group to set up a meeting with Transport Scotland failed and it is understood negotiations have been “fundamentally damaged”.
Mike Burns, who is spearheading the campaign, claimed that chief executive David Middleton had refused to meet him.
He also accused the government agency of failing to provide proof that speed is a major factor in causing accidents on the A9.
Transport Scotland denied this, telling The Courier the claims were “wrong” and blaming the protesters for not committing to a meeting date.
Mr Burns hit back, saying: “We strongly refute the suggestions that meetings have not been committed to and restate that it(Transport Scotland) changed the agreed position and statements, which were the foundations of moving forward to the meeting.
“The fact is, the vast majority of incidents on the A9 do not involve HGVs and, despite repeated attempts, Transport Scotland is unwilling or unable to provide the data which proves beyond any reasonable doubt that speed is the main factor.”
For more on this story see The Courier or try our digital edition.