The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Transport bosses refuse to budge on tractor ban
North-east MSP insists dual carriageway rules should apply
Transport chiefs have confirmed a controversial tractor ban will remain in place on the AWPR.
Furious farmers called on Transport Scotland to overturn the order which would prevent traffic using the £750 million scheme.
There is a special designation which limits the distance farm traffic can travel, effectively prohibiting agricultural vehicles from travelling on it.
And while this was agreed in the planning stages of the 28-mile road a number of years ago many farmers were unaware they were not able to use the route.
Union bosses and politicians had called on the ban to be overturned and even urged First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to get involved.
However Transport Scotland has been steadfast in its position and has now confirmed the ban will not be changed.
North-east MSP Peter Chapman said: “This outcome comes as no surprise, given the way in which this SNP government treats the farming community.
“Farmers and landowners have borne the brunt of disruption during construction of the AWPR.
“It is a cruel irony that they won’t be allowed to use the road once it is completed.”
Among the concerns raised by the farming community was that the bypass appeared to be given the same restrictions as a motorway when it has been designed as a dual carriageway similar to the A90 Aberdeen to Dundee road.
It was also argued this would mean farmers using tractors to tow livestock from north of the city to the slaughterhouse at Portlethen would be forced into using larger haulage trucks or into taking their vehicles through Aberdeen.
Mr Chapman added: “My position has not changed.
“This is a dual carriageway – like many others around the country that agricultural vehicles use regularly, safely and without hindrance to other traffic.
“I can see no good reason why a ban should apply to this section of road, but not other parts of the A90.”
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “The statutory orders for AWPR were made in 2010.
“At that time, it was promoted as a special road and that is what will be delivered.
“One of the key purposes of a special road is to provide a route for strategic traffic, thereby freeing up the existing road network to significantly improve local access and journey times for the local community.
“Certain rules govern whether roads of this nature are suitable for tractors. In this case, tractors must be travelling less than 1.5km between two pieces of (farm) land in common ownership.
“There are no junctions on the AWPR which meet this requirement.
“When the AWPR is opened to traffic, strategic traffic will switch from using the existing road network on to the new AWPR. It is estimated this will cut the journey across Aberdeen by up to half at peak periods and will also provide safer local access for the farming community on local roads.
“This will be a significant benefit to drivers of agricultural vehicles.”