South West Scotland Transport Alliance wants Chancellor to green light Labour Government’s commitment to explore bypassing two villages
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is being urged to use Wednesday’s Budget to confirm that £8m is still on the table for work needed to progress critical improvements to the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway.
A group of leading businesses has called for the finance promised by the UK Government for feasibility studies to bypass two villages to be released.
Former Conservative Transport Secretary Mark Harper said in December last year the money would be paid to Transport Scotland to carry out the work at Springholm and Crocketford.
The South West Scotland Transport Alliance (SWSTA) understands that this money has still not been transferred.
SWSTA – the group spearheaded by port operators Stena Line, P&O Ferries and Belfast Harbour working to drive vital improvements to the A75 and A77 – say the region cannot afford any further delays in work.
Speaking on behalf of SWSTA, Paul Grant, Trade Director, Irish Sea North, at Stena Line, said: “We need certainty from the Chancellor in her Budget about the UK Government’s commitment to invest.
“Dumfries and Galloway cannot afford another false dawn and delay to the desperately-needed work to make the A75 safer, greener and better. Ultimately this is about helping to save lives, improve the environment and boost the economy.
“Investment in the region is going to continue to be curtailed while this road remains sub-standard. The new UK Government has a real chance here to turn that around. We are keen to work with politicians at Westminster and Holyrood to make things happen.”
Following a recent question in the Scottish Parliament from Galloway and West Dumfries MSP Finlay Carson, First Minister John Swinney promised to visit the region to discuss the A75 with local campaigners.
The UK Government’s multi-year spending review is not expected to be completed until spring 2025.
“We’re already 10 months on from the original commitment. People and businesses are keen to see progress. The new Government needs to honour the commitment made,” Mr Grant added.
The last government’s Union Connectivity Review identified the A75 as a key strategic route as the link between England, Scotland and Northern Ireland via Stena Line and P&O Ferries’ ports at Cairnryan
SWSTA argues that improving the A75 and A77 would make the roads safer and reduce emissions while helping to retain and attract new business.
It last month called on the UK and Scottish Governments to form a ministerial-led special joint taskforce to focus on action, drive forward priority improvements – and how Westminster and Holyrood will be able to work together.
It has also called on a clear timetable for improvements for the A75 and the A77, detailing what work will take place and when and to create a UKG-SG funding mechanism which ringfences the money required to make that possible.
Scottish Chambers of Commerce Director and Chief Executive Liz Cameron has described the A75 and A77 as two of Scotland’s most important roads, but that it suffers from “chronic under-investment which makes them dangerous, hampers economic progress and slows efforts to improve our environment”.
The Alliance counts the Chambers of Commerce in Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire among its supporters.
