Lib Dems challenge ministers over roads delays

4.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 15th Apr 2008

The Liberal Democrat MSP for North East Scotland, Alison McInnes and Malcolm Bruce, Liberal Democrat MP for Gordon have joined forces to challenge Scottish Ministers over the recently announced delays to vital North East roads projects.

In a letter to Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson, copied to Alex Salmond, MP for Banff and Buchan and MSP for Gordon they say:

"We are writing to express our concern about the delay revealed in the Infrastructure Investment Plan to projected completion dates for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route - from 2011 to 2013 and the A90 dual carriageway between Balmedie and Tipperty from 2010 to 2012.

"Can you explain why you have put these projects back? We are astonished that you do not appear to regard these projects as strategic corridors given that they will unlock development opportunities and enhance the efficiency of existing businesses currently handicapped by the difficulties of getting to and through the City of Aberdeen.

Alison McInnes explained, "As former chair of Nestrans - the transport policy consortium for the North East - I played an active role in bringing these projects forward and persuading former transport ministers to give them priority which I am pleased that they did.

"I am therefore astonished that the new administration has quietly downgraded their status and put back their projected completion. People in the North East will be disappointed that Ministers who represent our area seem to regard developments elsewhere in Scotland as more important than the ones that directly affect their constituents."

Malcolm Bruce said: "I know how long it takes to deliver major projects of this kind and am amazed that ministers are prepared to let these slip away. Businesses all tell me that these are vitally important to their future investment plans and they and commuters will be very disappointed to see them moving into the middle distance.

"It is no good blaming the previous administration. It moved things forward. Under the SNP we are going backwards."

The Liberal Democrats also called for commitment to a commuter rail link between Inverurie and Aberdeen with a station at Kintore saying: "it is now becoming clear that the Inverurie-Kintore corridor is scheduled for the fastest growth in population and development in Scotland and with no Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route or commuter rail link between now and 2012 there is likely to be severe congestion with significant economic costs."