Forbes hits back at Tory criticism over A82 survey

Lochaber constituency MSP Kate Forbes has hit back at criticism from fellow Holyrood elected member, Conservative Donald Cameron, after the latter said road-users in the region needed action from the SNP Scottish Government and not more surveys, writes Mark Entwistle.

Highlands and Islands MSP Mr Cameron was referring to the recent online survey calling for local residents to help prioritise which stretches of the road they think are the worst and should be prioritised for improvement works.

Ms Forbes recently said the survey had already prompted hundreds of responses, but Mr Cameron was not impressed, saying: ‘We don’t need to be told what the problems are with the A82. What we do need is for SNP ministers to recognise that after 13 years in power there is an urgent requirement to make good the years of neglect that have led to repeated road closures and constant uncertainty for local residents and businesses.

‘Kate Forbes is the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and has the means to take action. She should get on with fixing our roads without further delay.’

But Ms Forbes refuted the criticism, telling the Lochaber Times this week: ‘There has been progress on the A82, with plans to upgrade the stretch from Tarbert to Inverarnan. This survey doesn’t hinder those plans.’

Campaign group the A82 Partnership also expressed surprise that Ms Forbes thought another survey was required to identify the priorities.

In an email to Ms Forbes, the campaign’s Stewart MacLean told the MSP that both trunk roads operator BEAR Scotland and Transport Scotland, already had a wealth of information on accident locations and the location of fatalities, adding: ‘What we require is serious investment in the A82 and not another survey.’

However, Mr Maclean later confirmed the campaign had received ‘a very prompt response’ from Ms Forbes advising them the survey did not undermine any other work that is being done to improve the A82.