Far north business leader says decision on A9 road is 'reprehensible' and putting lives at risk
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The Scottish Government's lack of plans to improve the A9 north of Inverness is "reprehensible" and is putting lives at risk, according to a Caithness business leader.
Trudy Morris, the chief executive of the Caithness Chamber of Commerce, claimed the decision – made by Scottish Transport Minister, Jenny Gilruth this week – shows "how low our rural communities rank in investment decisions made by central government".
Ms Gilruth said the target date of 2025 to dual the trunk road between Perth and Inverness was no longer achievable, with no further announcement of when that stretch would finally be completed or any proposals for dualling the road north of the Tore roundabout.
Ms Morris said: "The announcement that the dualling of the A9 from Perth to Inverness will now no longer be completed by 2025 has been met with anger and incredulity across the Highlands. However, revelations that there are no plans to improve the A9 north of Inverness are equally reprehensible.
"In Caithness, we have women in active labour forced to travel some 110 miles south on the A9, on what has become an increasingly dangerous journey. This is just one example how critical this road is."
She added: "While we appreciate the budgetary challenges of government, this once again demonstrates how low our rural communities rank in investment decisions made by central government. Lives are being put at risk and rural communities side-lined and excluded. Viable transport infrastructure is a crucial component in the prosperity and sustainability of the north Highland region."
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP Jamie Stone also attacked the decision. He said the Scottish Transport Minister's statement announced investment along the A9 from Perth to Inverness but failed to indicate any funding north of Inverness.
The Liberal Democrat MP said: "The minister claimed that people call the A9 the 'spine of Scotland, linking Lowland with Highland'. In that case, I do not know how the Scottish Government expect Scotland to stand when the top half of its spine is falling apart."
He added: "The failure to invest in the A9 north of Inverness shows that once again, the Scottish Government chooses to completely ignore the great need for improvements.
"They could start with the A9 north of the Tore roundabout, or with the dangerous junctions such as at Newmore and Tain, or the weather blackspots such as the Cambusavie bends, or many other treacherous stretches of the road to Thurso and Wick which drivers can easily name.
"This has been the situation for far too long and it once again demonstrates a bias that has become glaringly obvious."
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant described the decision to delay the A9 dualling project as "a total betrayal of the Highlands and yet another broken election promise".
She said: "Lives are being lost on this dangerous road while communities go without the upgrades they have waited years for. The SNP need to come clean and tell us when they will actually deliver this long overdue promise."
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross SNP MSP Maree Todd said: "The A9 is a route that local businesses and communities in the far north rely on and, with a devastating rise in fatalities on the road in recent months, I can appreciate the strength of feeling following the Transport Minister’s announcement.
"However, along with wider immediate measures to help support a reduction in accidents along the route, I was pleased to hear the minister also acknowledge the ongoing challenges north of Inverness. The minister confirmed that she is in talks with BEAR Scotland and Transport Scotland representatives about improvements. I look forward to meeting with the minister shortly to discuss these plans further and share my constituents’ concerns."
One of the longest serving SNP MSPs Fergus Ewing hit out at the "devastating news" and said it will be all the more bitter "for those who have lost loved ones". He claimed most people in the north will greet the news with "anger and disbelief".
The Transport Minister said the target to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2025 was "unachievable" but stressed the Scottish Government is committed to the project. She said it had been hit by delays, highlighting the impact of the Covid pandemic, Brexit and the war in Ukraine.
The A9 is Scotland's longest road, running from Scrabster, near Thurso, to Dunblane, near Stirling.
