Dismay after lack of improvements on A75 and A77

A coalition of Stena Line, P&O Ferries and Belfast Harbour has expressed its dismay after a Scottish Government report has pledged to make only three of 20 improvements on the A75 and A77 in full.
The ferry operators have called for major improvements to the busy roads for decades and over the last three years they have been engaged in productive and private discussions with the government about specific and targeted improvements.
This culminated in a fully researched proposal by the coalition for 20 targeted improvements over the A75 and A77, with the specific parts of each road having been created partly after detailed discussion with Transport Scotland.
The ferry operators will respond to the review, as part of the Scottish Government’s public consultation into its recommendations, and is also raising concerns directly with ministers and MSPs.
In a joint statement, Paul Grant, trade director, Irish Sea at StenaLine, Riccardo Tonelli, director of operations, North Sea and Irish Sea at P&O Ferries and Michael Robinson, port director of Belfast Harbour said: “We are deeply dismayed at the Scottish Government’s proposals.
“We have engaged in what we felt were very productive discussions for over three years, with the Scottish Government and with Transport Scotland.
“We felt we had a mutual understanding of what was required,
and a mutual commitment to making the necessary improvements.
“We carry around 1.75m passengers, 500,000 cars and 400,000 freight vehicles every year on our 26 daily crossings.
“Each one of them has been let down.”