The Inverness Courier will host the A9 Crisis Summit in July as dualling delays drag on
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More than 100 people have died on the A9 since 2009 – 13 of those people in fatal car crashes on the Inverness-Perth stretch last year alone. It’s time to act. Now.
Four months ago the Scottish Government declared that its promise to dual the A9 from Inverness to Perth by 2025 was “unachievable”.
Just two sections of the A9 have been dualled – in all 11 miles, or around one mile a year since the programme’s inception. No new plan has emerged since and waiting until autumn for an update is not good enough. Lives are at stake.
As part of The Inverness Courier’s ongoing campaign, we are holding an A9 Crisis Summit on July 18 at Eden Court, bringing together local interest groups, campaigners, business leaders and MSPs.
The event will include speakers, a panel discussion and questions from the audience. As well as demanding a new dualling timeline, we will discuss ideas for increased safety measures.
We are inviting representatives from the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland, including the new transport minister Fiona Hyslop.
After a catalogue of fatal delays, people in the Highlands need to know that this is a priority – will she give us that assurance and attend?
And this is where you come in – you can submit a question, tell your story or make a suggestion.
We have also reached out to friends and families of victims. Anyone who has been in an accident on the A9, or has lost a loved one, is welcome to contact us.
You can be involved in any way you feel comfortable – whether attending and remaining unnamed, providing a statement or question, or speaking at the summit.
Sarah Fyfe, head of content and audience at Highland News & Media (HNM), the publisher of The Inverness Courier, explained why this is more than just a political issue.
“Our Dual The A9 campaign is not work – it is personal,” she said.
“I am a born and bred Highlander and I, like my colleagues, have no choice but to travel on the A9 regularly. We drive on that road with our children, report on tragic deaths, hear sirens as emergency services attend crashes and, sadly, some know victims’ loved ones.
“The A9 Crisis Summit is an opportunity to bring together people who can affect change, demanding a dualling update while discussing shorter-term safety ideas.”
We aren’t alone in our urgency to see this broken Scottish Government promise prioritised. MSPs Fergus Ewing and Kate Forbes, Laura Hansler of the A9 Dual Action Group and Colin Marr from Inverness Chamber of Commerce have agreed to attend to make Highland voices heard.
Mr Ewing said: “I commend HNM and The Inverness Courier for this initiative.
“The Courier was just last week quoted in the Scottish Parliament during the First Minister’s Questions session. The coverage this paper has given to this vital topic has without doubt helped exert major political pressure on the powers that be.
“It would be unthinkable that the transport minister fails to attend this meeting, and I am very hopeful that, with her experience over many years, Fiona Hyslop will be the minister who finally can deliver renewed confidence in the Scottish Government by announcing the swift completion of the project, and details of when sections will be done, and by behind the scenes pressing that the Scottish Government money is where the First Minister’s mouth is.”
Mr Marr said: “The lack of progress on dualling the A9 makes it clear that the Scottish Government have never given this project the necessary focus or priority.
“Edinburgh has benefited from the new Forth crossing and trams, while Inverness and Highlands are stuck with outdated road and rail connections.
“Highland businesses can’t reach their full potential with this lack of infrastructure, but more importantly we are still seeing families and communities devastated by the all too regular loss of life.
“The Scottish Government now needs to step up and publish a detailed timetable for completion of this long overdue, essential work. That needs to be followed by regular updates, so we all know whether or not they are delivering on their promises this time.
He added: “In 2011, we were promised completion by 2025 and we took the government at their word. This time round we will be watching every step and holding the government to account.”
Contact for the summit: newsdesk@hnmedia.co.uk
