“Building the economy of Dumfries and Galloway” must be the top priority at a forthcoming Scottish Government transport summit, according to South Scotland MSP and Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Economy, Environment and Infrastructure Committee Colin Smyth.
The Scottish Government summit , which will be attended by Deputy First Minister John Swinney and Transport Minister Humza Yousaf, will take place on 22 August at the Easterbook Hall with over 20 organisations invited including local MSPs, Dumfries and Galloway Council and SWESTRANs.
Colin Smyth said, “This summit isn’t just about roads or rail or ferries. It’s about building the economy of Dumfries and Galloway. Unless we see some serious investment from the Scottish Government into the region’s transport infrastructure, the local economy will continue to lag behind the rest of Scotland when it comes to having well paid high skilled jobs in the area”.
“We need to use the summit to make sure Government Ministers are left in no doubt about the problems the local economy faces and the importance of better transport in tackling those problems. That’s the clear message Ministers will hear at the summit from groups such as the council and business representatives. They will also be left in no doubt about the damage Government cuts to budgets are having on public transport like local bus services”.
“No one seriously expects the Transport Minister or Deputy First Minister to come to the summit with a list of firm commitments. However, whilst the Scottish Government have pledged to invest over £3bn dualling the 100 miles of the A9 from Perth to Inverness, they currently have no firm investment plans to upgrade a single mile on any of the region’s trunk roads such as the A75, A76, A77 or A7. That needs to change”.
