On the road to ruin
SNP’s Westminster leader goes back on deal with Greens already, saying A96 project will go ahead
THE SNP’s Westminster leader yesterday attempted to backtrack from a key part of his party’s deal with the Greens by insisting a major roads project ‘will still happen’.
Ian Blackford said that the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen will go ahead because it will help make the road safer.
He also insisted that there would be no change to plans to dual the A9 all the way from Perth to Inverness.
But the deal with the Scottish Greens says a review will look at a ‘climate compatibility assessment’ before a final decision is made next year on whether to dual the entire A96.
The Scottish Greens also yesterday stressed that the review is separate to ‘essential safety improvement’ works which can take place on parts of the route.
On BBC Radio Scotland Mr Blackford, who represents Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said: ‘What is important is that we take account of safety, and that will be key both when it comes to the A9, the tremendous improvements that have been made, and indeed the requirement that we have to make sure we deliver safety over the course of the A96 as well. These things will still happen.’
The deal between the parties says ‘in the face of the climate emergency we need to shift away from spending money on new road projects that encourage more people to drive’.
It says new roads projects will normally only be taken forward ‘where they reduce the maintenance backlog, address road safety or adapt the network to deal with the impacts of climate change or benefit communities’.
It also states that ‘we will not build road infrastructure to cater for forecast unconstrained increases in traffic volumes’.
The agreement throws into doubt the A96 project by saying that, while the plan is to ‘fully dual’ the route between Inverness and Aberdeen, ‘we agree to conduct a transparent, evidence-based review to include a climate compatibility assessment to assess impacts on the climate and the environment’.
It says only that the final report will be published by the end of 2022.
While the report is carried out, the agreement still sets out that some of the A96 work can go ahead if it improves connectivity, tackles congestion and addresses safety and environmental issues.
This work includes dualling from Inverness to Nairn, and bypasses for Nairn, Keith, Elgin and Inverurie.
Responding to Mr Blackford’s comconcerns ments, a spokesman for the Scottish Greens said: ‘The draft co-operation agreement would see the proposed A96 expansion project subjected to a climate impact review.’
Scottish Tory transport spokesman Graham Simpson said: ‘The A9 and A96 dualling projects could pay the price as a result of the SNP cosying up to their allies.
‘Now the SNP’s Westminster leader appears to be backtracking. We are already seeing early signs of just how chaotic this deal will be.’
Miss Sturgeon said she is ‘confident’ SNP members will ‘embrace’ the agreement with the Greens.
However, SNP Aberdeenshire councillor Geva Blackett quit the party in response to the deal.
In a message to constituents she said: ‘Many rural jobs are under threat and involvement from the Green Party will no doubt see an agenda pushed through with no thought about the wider impact.’
Meanwhile, the Tories condemned the deal for failing to mention the drugs death crisis. Health spokesman Annie Wells said: ‘Issues that demand immediate attention have been cast aside so the SNP could secure the backing of their allies.’
‘Cosying up to their allies’
ONLY three days after it was announced, the SNP’s pact with the Greens is under strain. Green opposition to road projects is key to making the shabby co-operation deal work.
But Nationalist MP Ian Blackford insists two major roads projects, dualling the A9 from Perth to Inverness and the A96 from Inverness to Aberdeen, ‘will still happen’ – presumably fearing a voter backlash if they were shelved.
Can we really believe his assurances while the Greens are in a position of such unprecedented influence? Not everyone within the SNP is happy with this unedifying alliance – indeed former Nationalist minister Alex Neil believes it will harm the independence cause.
That’s ironic, as furthering her separatist agenda was the only reason Nicola Sturgeon was prepared to contemplate this deal. The coalition of chaos may be heading off the rails within days of its birth.