A9 campaigner from Kincraig says sound of emergency sirens is 'horrible'
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Laura Hansler lives just a field away from the A9 at Kincraig and regularly hears the sirens of emergency vehicles.
She became involved with the A9 Dual Action Group after hearing horrific accounts from bereaved families.
In December, the group lodged a petition at the Scottish Parliament urging Ministers to deliver on their commitment to complete the dualling of the road between Inverness and Perth by 2025.
But following last week's admission by the Scottish Government that the promised target date will not be met, Miss Hansler is now calling for a public inquiry.
"There has been an exponential increase in accidents," said retired NHS health promotion manager for cardiac care.
"Here at Kincraig, you are very aware of the emergency vehicles – particularly during the school holidays you will hear sirens go off constantly.
"You can identify what vehicles they are, whether it is police, ambulance or a fire engine, and if you hear a helicopter you know it is grim.
"You know what is happening and you check the media.
"You hear the road is closed and then how long it is going to be closed.
"If it is going to be shut for several hours, you know there is a fatality and they are waiting for the investigators to come.
"It is that sequence. It is a horrible, horrible feeling."
The petition lodged at Holyrood by the A9 Dual Action Group urges the Scottish Government to deliver on the commitment it made in 2011 for dualling of the A9.
Signed by almost 4000 people, it calls for publication of a revised timetable and detailed plan for dualling each section, completion of the work by 2025 and the creation of a memorial to those who have lost their lives in road traffic incidents on the A9.
Since 2011, 59 people have lost their lives on the Inverness to Perth section although there have been almost 300 deaths since 1979.
Miss Hansler, one of the action group's administrators, said last week's announcement made no difference to the petition.
"If anything, it probably gives more fuel to the fire," she said.
"We now need to petition for an inquiry."
She believed there had been opportunities time and time again for the government to say the project was not on target.
"They could have told us five years ago if it was not on course," she said.
She said any attempts to blame delays on the cost of living crisis, Brexit or the covid pandemic were ridiculous.
She also felt there were questions to be answered about the procurement procedure associated with the project.
"If this was going on in the central belt, it would not be tolerated," she said.
She also cited last month's announcement regarding the successful bid for Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport which could have a knock-on impact on the region's roads.
"Until the A9 improves, the A96 is going to get worse," she said.
