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Badenoch MSP says criticism of A9 safety meeting is wide of the mark





MSP Kate Forbes at the Munclochy Junction on the A9.
MSP Kate Forbes at the Munclochy Junction on the A9.

Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes has hit back at criticism that a meeting held yesterday on A9 safety did not reveal more details on timeline for dualling the road.

MSPs of all parties from across the Highlands were invited to the discussion held by Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth in the wake of a huge rise in the number of fatalities on the arterial route since the start of July.

She wanted to hear directly from the region's politicians about their concerns and thoughts they may have using their own local knowledge on short term actions that might help improve the road’s safety.

Ms Forbes stressed that the meeting was not to discuss dualling of the road – as important as that is – but interim measures to make the Inverness-Perth road safer.

Scottish Labour MSP Rhoda Grant had said she was left disappointed at the meeting by the failure to provide an update on A9 dualling progress.

Ms Forbes responded: “Though the meeting was specifically to discuss immediate short-term actions to improve road safety on the A9, the Transport Minister made it abundantly clear from the outset she remains fully committed to the dualling of the road from Inverness to Perth.

“The discussion was constructive, with input from both Police Scotland and Transport Scotland as well as Highland and Perthshire MSPs.

“I was pleased to hear that the Ralia and Carrbridge stretches are going to be prioritised for further investigation, as these have been of particular concern for myself and my colleague Fergus Ewing.

“There are a number of potential short-term measures being looked at, such as publicity campaigns, signage, lighting and illuminated road studs, and the Transport Minister is keen to gather consensus about the most effective changes and make these improvements as quickly as possible.

“Of course none of these short-term measures are a substitute for dualling the road, however, it is incumbent that the Transport Minister takes all available steps – however small – to make the A9 as safe as possible in the interim.”

Highlands MSP left disappointed by lack of A9 dualling detail


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