Region’s roads ‘forgotten’

Dec 12 2008 by Kieran West Brook, Dumfries Standard Friday

A MAJOR overhaul of Scotland’s transport future has “snubbed” Dumfries and Galloway.

The Scottish Government’s Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) does lay out some improvements for the A76, A75 and A77.

But the multi-billion pound scheme has smashed hopes for a southern bypass around Dumfries.

And that has angered local politicians who have claimed that the region has been “forgotten” by the report.

Dumfriesshire Tory MP David Mundell said: “I very much welcome the improvements planned for the A75 and the A76, but this review certainly doesn’t go far enough.

“There is no mention of a southern bypass for Dumfries – which is essential to ease congestion around the roads to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary and the Crichton Campus – nor is there a fast-link from Dumfries to the M74, which has been on a waiting list for years.”

The report outlines 29 major developments across the country worth up to £20billion.

The report states that the A75, A76 and A77 “will all be upgraded in order to improve connections to the south and south west”.

But some politicians have criticised a lack of detail.

Dumfries and Galloway Labour MP Russell Brown said: “The SNP has completely overlooked the obvious need for major road and rail improvements in Dumfries and Galloway.

“Once again it’s clear that our region is the forgotten part of Scotland under the SNP.”

Labour Councillor Ronnie Nicholson said: “This review is a major snub to Dumfries and Galloway, which is fast becoming a forgotten region in the eyes of the SNP Scottish Government.

“The decision of the SNP Government to allocate just a few million pounds on minor improvements from a £20billion package is a complete disaster for the local economy.

The estimated total cost of £20billion has only as little as £50m being spend in the region.”

But Alasdair Morgan, SNP MSP for the South of Scotland welcomed the report.

He said: “This is good news for Dumfries and Galloway.

"These announcements demonstrate the commitment of the Scottish Government to the economy of the south west. Once again the Scottish Government has delivered for south west Scotland.”

It has been described as the biggest and most ambitious Scottish transport plan ever published.

An emergency council debate has now been called to discuss the report next week.