News in Moray:- Political row about dualling the A9 – and the A96

Scottish Labour is calling for an official inquiry into the A9, claiming that the SNP-Green government's commitment to dualling the road is "in tatters".

The government admitted last week that the road will not be dualled by 2025 – a long-time SNP ambition.

Both the pandemic and inflation have been cited as reasons for the delay.

Labour's intervention comes after comments made by Ariane Burgess, the Scottish Green Party MSP, to the Inverness Courier that road safety on the A9 was a more important goal than having it dualled.

Ms Burgess, whose Highlands and Islands ward includes Moray, told the Courier: "Road safety has to be our top priority on the A9.

"Improving dangerous junctions and reducing speeds is what will cut accidents and save lives, making a real difference to people living and travelling in the Highlands.

"This is the action local communities are telling us they want, and it needs to be prioritised ahead of dualling the whole length of the road."

Neil Bibby MSP, Labour's transport spokesperson, has branded the situation a "fiasco".

He said: "The truth is plain for all to see – the dualing of the A9 is not a priority for Green MSPs.

"The fact is that the people of the North of Scotland have been betrayed by an SNP-Green government that has broken its promises on the A9 time and time again.

"Nicola Sturgeon and Jenny Gilruth have claimed the Government is committed to the project but these comments exposed the split between governing parties.

"It seems that the scrapping of the dualing of the A9 by 2025 is the price that the people of Scotland have had to pay for the SNP’s deal with the Greens.

"We need the Scottish Greens and SNP Ministers to come clean on what discussions they have had in private on this project.

"It’s time for a parliamentary inquiry into this fiasco."

Critics have also called into question whether another similar long-term commitment regarding the A96 will be fulfilled.

The full length of the A96, which runs through Moray and connects Inverness and Aberdeen, is scheduled to be dualled by 2030.

Speaking to the Courier, Douglas Ross, Moray's MP, claimed: "Users of the A9 and Highland communities have been let down at every turn. Many rightly feel the SNP will never fully dual this key route.

"This also has a knock-on effect on the A96 being dualled and it looks like the SNP will betray the communities who have been promised a dualled road between Inverness and Aberdeen as well."

In response, Richard Lochhead, Moray's MSP told this newspaper earlier today that the Scottish Government remains committed to dualling the A9.

He said: "These delays, caused by soaring inflation and the pandemic, are disappointing for road users in the North of Scotland and those who have campaigned for the A9 dualling.

"Many infrastructure projects in the public and private sectors have been affected by events in the last few years.

"However, the Scottish Government is clear the commitment remains to dual the full length of the A9 and is investing an additional £5million in road safety measures in the more immediate future.

"The current plan remains to dual the A96, and we are awaiting the outcome of the climate compatibility assessment for the route before we hear about next steps.

"I’ve long supported the dualling of the A9 and the A96 given the economic and safety benefits.

"It took an SNP Government coming into office to give these commitments in the first place.

"Labour and Tory politicians know that their own parties failed to deliver similar commitments when in office."