Highlands MSP demanding answers over A9 dualling commitment
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A Highlands and Islands MSP is demanding answers from the Scottish Government after it was reported that the planned dualling of the A9 and A96 trunk roads could be delayed for years, with some speculation that the two projects have been effectively shelved.
Scottish Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston said doubt has been cast over Scottish ministers’ commitment to the schemes – an SNP manifesto pledge.
He said this is after it was revealed by a spokesman from Transport Scotland that consideration of the dualling schemes has been removed from the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2).
The regional MSP is raising the issue with Nicola Sturgeon at tomorrow's First Minister’s Questions.
Mr Halcro Johnston said: “The SNP made a cast-iron commitment to the people of the Highlands and Islands that these roads would be dualled and within clear timescales.
“They are vital parts of the infrastructure of the region and should be acting as a driver for investment and jobs growth.
"However, some stretches are simply not fit-for-purpose and are a deterrent to much-needed investment and job creation in my region.
“That is why it is so concerning that it now looks like that SNP ministers are shifting the goalposts on these projects, with the clear threat that completion dates may be shifted."
Mr Halcro Johnston said this latest uncertainty over investment in the Highlands and Islands was not an isolated example.
He commented: “We face an immense challenge to reboot our economy after the ravages of the Covid pandemic and investment in improving local transport infrastructure must be part of that.
“However, communities across the Highlands and Islands are already up in arms because of the failure – despite umpteen promises from SNP ministers over their 14 years in power – to upgrade the trunk road network."
However, Strathspey MSP and Rural Economy Minister Fergus Ewing has accused the Scottish Conservatives of mischief-making.
He told the Strathy: "The SNP Government has delivered progress on the dualling of the A9. We are working to deliver a further segment north of Perth.
"As the First Minister made clear these are major programmes which take time to deliver.
"She pointed out the fact that the UK Government have made a substantial reduction to our capital programme which makes the task more challenging.
"So contrary to this mischief-making from the Conservatives, the Scottish Government remains committed to these projects."
