I’ve lost two friends on the A9. The grief is devastating. My party must restore public trust NOW

SNP MSP FOR INVERNESS AND NAIRN AND FORMER MINISTER FOR RURAL ECONOMY

‘No man is an island entire of itself… any man’s death diminishes me...’

THESE words from English poet John Donne express the sense of collective grief when any person loses their life. Over the past few months, there have been several deaths in Scotland – deaths occurring in road traffic incidents on the A9 between Perth and Inverness.

Each death means a family will suffer grief and devastation. Twice in recent weeks, as the MSP for Inverness and Nairn, I have raised this tragic loss of life in Holyrood, arguing that the failure to deliver on our promises as a Government to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2025 makes the road less safe for over ten thousand roads users each day.

The First Minister replied to me with the welcome assurance that safety is paramount. On the second time I raised the issue I become emotional in asking the question. Not least because one of those who died was a friend of mine. The second friend I have lost through incidents on the A9.

Why are there so many fatalities on the A9, when the numbers of serious crashes in Scotland over the past 20 years has been falling?

On single carriageways there is no central reservation to separate traffic flowing in opposite directions. But on the A9 the problems are made worse because of the frequent change from single to dual to single and also some stretches are ‘two plus one’.

This must cause confusion especially for visitors from abroad and recent casualties have included people from other countries.

There are also black-spots at various junctions where traffic seeks to access or leave the A9 where it is a single carriageway.

It is for the police to investigate each incident. But the overwhelming belief sincerely held by my constituents is that until the A9 is dualled, the risk of death is serious and unacceptable.

The promise to dual is now 13 years old. It was in the 2009 Scottish Government Transport plan that the SNP first committed to deliver this project – dualling from Perth to Inverness by 2025 – alongside the pledge to dual the A96 from Inverness to Aberdeen by 2030.

While some progress has been made on the A9 with a few sections now dualled, nine remain to be done. However, the death toll continues to rise. Think of the impact on families who lose a loved one. Some have lost more than one. It is impossible to imagine the lifelong misery that is left as the bitter legacy of each these incidents.

Thus many of my constituents express concern and anger that the road has not yet been dualled. Mostly road users themselves – as a car remains a necessity for many of my rural constituents – they often make the point: ‘There but the grace of God goes me and my family.’

I have campaigned for dualling the A9 and A96 for 30 years, having first stood for election in 1992.

Since 1999, when the Scottish parliament was reconvened, I have been elected on six occasions, on each promising that my party in government would dual these roads. Delivery of these pledges is to me a matter of trust and confidence of the electorate – and a matter of honour. It must be so for my party.

I have worked hard alongside my friend and colleague Drew Hendry MP to urge all Transport Ministers to support the cause, and I am pleased that each of them have reconfirmed their commitment including Graeme Dey and Jenny Gilruth, the current Minister.

I have specifically asked them, in letters and meetings, since the Scottish parliament election last year, that the Scottish Government set out a revised and detailed timetable for each road.

Given there are practical constraints of the capacity of the civil

The promise to dual the road is now 13 years old but death toll continues

Think of the families who lose a loved one and the life-long bitter legacy

engineering sector, the work must be split into sections. It can’t all be done at once. But surely we must now demonstrate to all our good faith by setting out a plan showing when each section is intended to be started and finished?

Other parts of Scotland have seen major transport improvements which have enhanced safety, speed of transport and generally people’s lives. Accordingly, I say it is now the turn of the Highlands.

I know it’s not just people living in the north of the country but folk all over Scotland who want to see these improvements. Many hundreds of thousands use the A9 and A96 to see family and friends and for business and holidays.

It is a national project of national significance. All parties except the Greens support it.

So, I am delighted this newspaper is now determined to highlight the just cause of this campaign. For surely to deliver on promises is the key to maintaining the people’s trust. It’s also essential to prevent further loss of life.

As John Donne wrote in the same poem: ‘Do not ask for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.’