A96 roadworks in Keith are causing businesses to suffer, Douglas Ross tells Holyrood

Calls have been made for Scotland’s Transport Secretary to visit a roadwork-hit town on the A96.

Fiona Hyslop has been urged by United Keith chairwoman Linda Gorn and Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Douglas Ross to visit Keith to see the “misery” ongoing roadworks are causing.

Mr Ross called for SNP transport secretary to come north during a roads-related debate in the Scottish Parliament.

Ms Hyslop was not in the chamber for the debate, where concerns from United Keith and local businesses about the works on the A96 at the Union Bridge in Keith were voiced.

In her absence, Douglas Ross handed a petition signed by more than 350 people in Keith to SNP connectivity minister Jim Fairlie.

The petition is urging road operator Amey and the SNP to intervene to get the repairs completed and the traffic lights removed as a matter of priority.

Linda Gorn, chairwoman of United Keith, said: "This petition attracted a lot of support because people and businesses are fed up with the disruption that has been caused for several months.

"I handed over the petition to Douglas to present to the Transport Secretary and I hope she takes notice of the views of over 350 local people and businesses.

"These works have had a huge impact on the towns and businesses have been suffering.

“We need to see these works concluded as a matter of urgency and local businesses are actively looking at what compensation may be available.

“Many have lost thousands of pounds since these works began and every day the traffic lights remain, bring further losses to these crucial local businesses."

Mr Ross said that the situation is costing businesses in Keith up to £50-£60,000 per month as people are avoiding the area.

He says that the refusal from the SNP minister is a “total slap in the face” to Keith residents who are “continuing to suffer” due to the works taking too long to complete.

“These ongoing works are causing misery for people and businesses in Keith,” he said.

“I have heard first-hand from them about the anger over the traffic lights at Union Bridge and the impact they are having on the town, and have since this incident arose back in the summer.

“I wanted to use this debate to challenge Fiona Hyslop, the SNP transport secretary, to think again and come and see for herself what damage these ongoing works are having, so it was deeply disappointing she wasn’t present in the chamber.

“Hundreds of local people and businesses have made their feelings clear by signing this petition, which I have been told will be handed to Fiona Hyslop, by her colleague Jim Fairlie, after I brought it to the Parliament.

“It is a total slap in the face to the United Keith group and all of those in the town that, after taking two months to respond to Linda Gorn’s letter, Fiona Hyslop had her private secretary reply to say that her diary wouldn’t allow her to come to Keith.

“She must urgently re-think this decision as Keith residents are continuing to suffer the longer and longer these works go on with no end in sight.”