THE BBC has admitted to flouting the Highway Code after an episode of Escape to the Country sparked outrage among NC500 locals.
The episode of the popular property show, aired in August, saw Denise Nurse help a couple settle down who had spent the last year travelling around in their campervan.
Denise Nurse helped a couple settle down after a year travelling in their campervan[/caption]
BBC admitted for breaching the Highway Code[/caption]
The locals were furious over the scene that showed the motorhome parking in a passing place[/caption]
Furious residents along the North Coast 500 were up in arms when footage showed the motorhome parked in a passing place on a narrow road.
Local Colin Cameron revealed today that the broadcaster had apologised for its initial dismissive reply to his complaint.
Posting in the Facebook group NC500 The Land Weeps, he said: “While it’s slightly heartening to see they have acknowledged it, they shouldn’t have done this in the first place.
“Their reply does nothing to address the patronising brush off I got the first time I raised it.”
The BBC emailed Mr Cameron, apologising for failing to “properly address” his complaint.
They wrote: “We understand your concerns regarding a segment in Escape to the Country in which an interview with a couple moving to the Isle of Skye was conducted at the side of a road.
“You are of course correct that no matter how brief that filming was for, the Highway Code does advise that drivers should not park in passing places.
“We also appreciate your point about such matters being even more of an issue in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
It added: “While we don’t believe this segment of the programme would encourage people to ignore road signs and to park in places that they shouldn’t, we fully appreciate your concerns and we understand our responsibilities as a TV programme.
“The production team will bear this in mind for future filming and are grateful to you for taking the time to raise this with us.”
However, users were quick to slam the BBC’s response.
One user, wrote: One user wrote: “I find that reply incredibly rude. They’ve just apologised again (whilst still justifying it!) then basically saying b***er off now and don’t contact us again.”
Another added: “The whole thing is a reflection of the sense of propriety tourists and retirees have over the Highlands and Islands. Our homeland is being colonised.”
A third said: “A poor response. Sadly the audience won’t be aware of what they have said, but they will remember the scene and quite possibly believe that it is an ok thing to do. The damage is already done.”
It comes as we told how viewers blasted the public owned broadcaster over the “ridiculous” scene.
It showed the three having a break in camping chairs at the side of the single-track road.
Locals have frequently complained about dangerous driving and congestion on the route, a fifth of which is single-track.
