A96 contractor Mott MacDonald Sweco says office closure in Forres due to SNP-Green climate review
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A firm of contractors have closed their office in Moray while a review goes ahead on whether to fully dual the A96.
Mott MacDonald Sweco was appointed in 2016 to assess various route options for the A96, including the 28-mile section between and Nairn and Fochabers.
However the company has now taken the decision to close its office in Forres.
An email from a technical manager at Sweco stated: "Following the SNP/Green co-operation agreement and the decision to pause work on the scheme pending a climate change compatibility review, Mott MacDonald Sweco decided to close the Forres office on December 24, 2021."
Transforming the full length of the route between Inverness and Aberdeen into a dual carriageway has been a long-standing Scottish Government policy.
Before the pandemic, the SNP committed itself to have the route finished by 2030.
But a temporary pause has been put on all new road building after the party entered an agreement with the Greens last Summer.
The climate change compatibility review is expected to report its findings by the end of this year.
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said that carrying out a review was "sensible good governance for major investment of this kind".
In reference to Sewco's office closure, the spokesperson added: "This is an operational matter for the consultant concerned and has no impact on the project at this time.
"The Scottish government is committed to improving the A96 and will take forward a transport enhancements programme on the corridor that improves connectivity between surrounding towns, tackles congestion and addresses safety and environmental issues.
"The current plan is to fully dual the A96 route between Inverness and Aberdeen.
"However, the Scottish government has agreed to conduct a transparent, evidence-based review of the programme which will report by the end of 2022."
Douglas Ross, Moray's MP, is questioning the Scottish Government's commitment to dualling the full 99-mile route between the two cities.
He said: "I was shocked to learn that key contractors for the A96 dualling project had shut their local office in Forres.
"This highlights that those involved with this vital project simply don’t have the confidence the SNP are fully committed to ensuring this critical trunk road will be fully dualled.
"The SNP are betraying the northeast by continuing to bow to the demands of their Green partners, who want to take cars off the road.
"Here in Moray cars are not a luxury but a necessity.
"This long-promised upgrade to the A96 must happen.
"The closure of this office is extremely worrying for the future of the project and we need SNP ministers to finally commit to fully dualling the A96 as they previously promised to.
"If they don’t, they are putting local jobs and economic growth at risk.
"The A96 needs to be upgraded to give drivers a safer and improved journey between Aberdeen and Inverness, but this office closure has cast fresh doubt on the project."
