Greens slammed for ‘disgusting’ A9 death comments as they refuse to back dualling
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The Scottish Greens transport spokesman Mark Ruskell and Highland MSP Ariane Burgess have refused to state whether they are for or against the dualling – saying only that they “accept” some parts of the programme.
A9 campaigner Laura Hansler criticised the party for stonewalling her despite getting broad cross-party support except from the Greens – so we asked the party what its position was.
Both Mr Ruskell and Ms Burgess said they would prefer to see A9 cash spent on improving junctions rather than “dualling every single last inch” of the road and to improve safety by lowering the speed limit.
Ms Hansler said: “I thought it was disgusting that Mark Ruskell has used the statistic that at least one person has died on a dualled section of road – tragic as that is – to make his point, it was one car and didn’t involve anybody else.
"His attitude to me was shocking, he didn’t want to be there and he clearly didn’t want to listen. While Ariane just towed the party line.”
Greens do not accept “as fact” that dual carriageways are safer
In their response, the Greens said they did not accept “as fact” that dual carriageways were safer or that most people in the Highlands wanted dualling.
Mr Ruskell again used the death on a dual carriageway referred to by Ms Hansler to make his point: “The sad reality is that on sections of the A9 that have already been dualled we have seen deaths and casualties, including in recent weeks.
"I don’t want to see those tragedies brushed aside.
“They are a big concern for affected local communities who have called for junction improvements, speed limit reductions and other measures.”
“I hope the petitioners recognise the concerns of communities along the whole length of the A9 and that dualling the A9 will never be a one size fits all solution for road safety.”
Improving junctions and reducing speeds will make a real difference
Ms Burgess said: “Improving dangerous junctions and reducing speeds is what will cut accidents and save lives, making a real difference to people living and travelling in the Highlands.
“This is the action local communities are telling us they want, and it needs to be prioritised ahead of dualling the whole length of the road.
“What is clear, going back decades, is that building wider roads increases traffic, increases risk and reduces our ability to meet our emissions targets.
“I am in regular contact with constituents along the A9 and many of them have been clear that they would prefer safety improvements to full dualling.
“Those improvements will vary along the length of the route and it’s important communities are involved in co-designing improvements.”
