Tory MSPs in Ayrshire have hit back at the Scottish Government’s transport investment plans for 'passing over' upgrades to the A77.
The second strategic transport projects review (STPR2), which lays out Scotland's transport investment programme over the next 20 years with the aim of making transport more sustainable, was announced last week.
The review recommends that improvements are made to the A75 and the A77, with works including widening carriageways and improving junctions.
“STPR2 recommends that safety, resilience and reliability improvements are made on the A75 and A77 strategic road corridors, in turn supporting placemaking opportunities," the report says.
“This would include, but is not limited to, enhancing overtaking opportunities, widening or realigning carriageways and improving junctions.
“To encourage greater use of public transport and enable regeneration activities, consideration would also be given to upgrading or relocating the railway station in Stranraer.”
But – while welcoming the government’s recognition of the need for improvements to these roads – South Scotland representative Brian Whittle criticised the lack of detailed proposals, adding there are no concrete commitments for specific projects.
He said: “Drivers and communities up and down the A77 have been telling the Scottish Government for years what improvements need to be made, but they have been continually ignored.
“I have been calling for a detailed programme of improvements and investment to make the A77 safer and more reliable since I became an MSP and I will continue to do so until the SNP-Green coalition finally listen or find themselves replaced in government by a party that will.
“Whether it’s upgrading the Bellfield Interchange, bypassing towns and villages further south or the need to invest in electric vehicle charging and hydrogen infrastructure, the ideas are there.
“Sadly, as so often with the SNP, the big ideas and words aren’t followed through.
“With no detailed plans, no commitment to building further bypasses after Maybole and no mention at all of improvements to the Bellfield Interchange, STPR2 is looking like an opportunity denied for Ayrshire, courtesy of the SNP.”
South Scotland MSP colleague Sharon Dowey spoke of her disappointment that "upgrades to the A77 have been passed over by the SNP".
She said: “Time and time again over the past few months SNP ministers have hinted that the A77 would be included in the new transport review but it turns out that was just bluff and bluster.
“Projects in the Highlands and central belt will benefit from millions of pounds of investment while South Ayrshire is getting left behind. It’s the same old story.
“Dualling the A77 is long overdue and the UK Government identified it as a key road for dualling in their Union Connectivity Road, why can’t the SNP do the same?
“For them just to suggest that people get a train to Stranraer instead when train service in South Ayrshire are patchy at best shows just how ignorant they are about the transport situation in south-west Scotland.”
A 12-week consultation on STPR2 is open until April 15. Visit https://www.transport.gov.scot/consultation/consultation-on-the-draft-second-strategic-transport-projects-review-stpr2-for-scotland/
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