MP accuses rival of A9 ‘scaremongering’ Row over confirmation of dualling project
Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart has accused a political rival of “scaremongering” for suggesting another cast iron assurance is needed from the Scottish Government that the entire A9 will be dualled in the future.
The SNP MP hit out after Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said he believed it would be an “absolute betrayal” if the government suddenly dropped its long talked about commitment to dual the trunk road from Perth right up to Inverness.
The Mid Scotland and Fife MSP had been referring to a remark made by Transport Scotland’s director of roads Hugh Gillies, who recently told the Scottish Parliament’s rural economy and connectivity committee the £3 billion project was “up for debate” as part of a review.
Mr Fraser went on to say in light of the remark: “I want urgent confirmation from the Scottish Government that it will be continuing with the whole A9 dualling programme.
But Mr Wishart has since said: “Where it is absolutely right and proper in the current climate emergency that all infrastructure projects are assessed, I am pleased and satisfied that Transport Scotland has recommitted itself to ensuring that this work will be completed.
“It took the election of an SNP government to secure this work after successive Tory and Labour administrations continued to ignore the misery and deaths caused by this road.
“To try and suggest that this critical project is being abandoned or ‘betrayed’ is just the most irresponsible scaremongering.
“Can I suggest that Murdo Fraser gets in his car and travels north on the A9 towards Inverness.
“If he rolls down his window he will be able to see a whole lot of people in high viz gear and safety helmets with an assortment of heavy machinery and diggers.
“These are the construction workers working on actually dualling this route.
“Maybe then Mr Fraser might just be able to accept what is in front of eyes and that this road is being delivered.”
However, several of Mr Fraser’s local Scottish Conservative colleagues have raised similar concerns the remark made by Mr Gillies could mean some communities waiting to see improvements carried out along the 80-mile route might end up disappointed by further delays.
Strathtay councillor Anne Jarvis said: “The statement that the dualling of the A9 is up for review is extremely disturbing. The danger of this road is so obvious from the accident statistics not to mention the fatalities that happen.
“The transport minister’s decision on the Dunkeld stretch is anxiously awaited by the A9 community group in Dunkeld. This organisation did an enormous amount of work seeking the opinion of residents as to what they would like to see considered.
“Their report is with Transport Scotland and any delay here will be detrimental to that work.”
Her ward colleague Ian James added: “Like it or not, the motor vehicle is part of everyday life and we need to make these busy roads as safe as we can to accommodate them.”
And Highland councillor John Duff said: “As someone who regularly travels on sections of the A9 that have yet to be dualled, I am very conscious of the increased and prolonged risks to road users which a decision to delay could bring.”
A Transport Scotland spokesperson commented: “The Scottish Government is committed to dualling the A9 between Perth and Inverness and the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen, underlining its commitment to connecting Scotland’s cities with a high quality transport system that will sustainably generate economic growth.”