CAMPAIGNERS who took their fight to Holyrood over much-needed improvements to the A77 insist that their message has been heard loud and clear by Scotland’s Transport Minister.
Members of the A77 Campaign Team walked away from their recent meeting with Fiona Hyslop MSP at the Scottish Parliament with optimism around future upgrades on the route.
The group feel they have made great strides forward at securing some form of structure that would resemble a task force but would be tighter and more effective.
Campaigner John Campbell said: “We have met with a number of Transport Ministers going back to 2016 and, whilst they were all courteous towards us, Fiona Hyslop was the first Transport Minister that we felt had listened to what we had to say and, obviously, had researched her brief on the A77.”
He added: “The need for improvements to the A77 is of paramount importance to the Scottish economy, with the A77 being that crucial link to Northern Ireland through the ports at Cairnryan, and it being the only ferry port in the whole of the UK that has not got either a dual carriageway or motorway serving it.
“We understand it can be anything up to and above £10m of goods that travel between Scotland and Northern Ireland on a daily basis. A lot of these goods are ‘just in time’ goods that require to be delivered same day to the retail outlets and is why we need the A77 to be kept open and greatly improved.
“But it is also about the safety of the people who live in the seven towns and villages on the 50-mile stretch between Whitletts roundabout at Ayr down to Stranraer with the huge number of 44 ton lorries trudging through these villages subjecting them to CO2 emissions.”
Fellow campaigner Councillor Willie Scobie, who represents Stranraer and the Rhins, said: “We really want to thank the Transport Minister for the interest she expressed about setting up some form of structure so interested parties could meet with her on a regular basis on issues that affect them.
“These would come from interested parties that use the A77 on a daily basis like the road hauliers, the ferry companies at Cairnryan, the chamber of trade and commerce, as well as the local councils.
“We were particularly pleased to hear the Transport Minister saying she considered the A77 Campaign Team to be at the heart of any structure she sets up.”
Councillor Scobie added: “We shall continue to have a positive dialogue with Transport Scotland and Amey on the short term issue and asked the Transport Minister to keep us updated with her thoughts and progress towards this objective.”
