The south of Scotland is “the forgotten region” when it comes to improving vital infrastructure, says an Ayrshire MSP who has raised concerns over a lack of funding for two major roads.
South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth wrote to the Scottish Government asking how much funding for the upgrade of the A75 and A77 has been committed by the UK Government.
Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth replied that the Scottish Government are “not aware of the UK Government committing any funding” for the upgrade of either the A75 or the A77, which runs through Kilmarnock, Prestwick, Ayr and Girvan.
She added that the UK Government’s Union Connectivity Review (UCR) identified both roads as ‘critical road transport corridors’, and that a £20m Union Connectivity Development Fund was available for advance design / development on a select number of transport corridors, including the A75.
But it was “not clear” if any of that funding has been spent on preliminary work for the A75 and that “the failure to mention the A77 suggests it will no longer be considered a priority for upgrading.”
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Colin Smyth blasted that this confirmed that the “south of Scotland is the forgotten region”, adding that it was time to recognise that the upgrading of the A75 and the A77 “is a strategic priority for the whole of Scotland.”
He said: “It is shocking that the UK Government has not made any concrete commitments to fund improvement to these roads.
“While the recommendation from the UCR report last year was for upgrades to the A75, we’re almost a year on and nothing has materialised. And at the same time, we are left to conclude that the A77 has been completely overlooked.
“People have had enough, they are sick of being fobbed off and want to see some results.”
A UK Government Department for Transport spokesperson said: “The government is grateful to Sir Peter Hendy for his review into strategic connectivity across the UK.
“We are considering his recommendations carefully and have been discussing them with the devolved administrations and key stakeholders, and will publish our response in due course.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said they will continue to press the UK Government on appropriate funding to enable progress improvements to the A75 and A77.
They added: “Looking ahead, the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) recommendations includes options of targeted and safety related road improvements on both the A75 and A77, including enhancing overtaking opportunities, widening or realigning carriageways– for example, bypassing the villages of Crocketford and Springholm – and improving junctions.”
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