ISSUES around the neglect of transport infrastructure in the south west of Scotland have once again been raised in Scottish Parliament.
Speaking in a debate in the chamber last week, South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said the lack of action from the Scottish Government is having a serious impact on the local economy.
He said: “It is impossible to understate the growing anger that there is about, frankly, the Government’s utter contempt towards improving transport infrastructure in the south-west, and the resultant neglect for the local economy.
“That neglect is now enshrined as the Government’s policy for the next two decades as a result of a wholly inadequate strategic transport review.
“After years of delay in delivering that review, the vague, minor commitments to realign the A75 and to improve the A77 come with no detail of exactly what those plans are, or even when they will happen.”
Turning to trains, he said: “The SNP-Green Government has argued that building new roads increases traffic and that it takes people away from using other more environmentally friendly forms of transport.
“However, there is no railway to use between Gretna and Stranraer, and the Government has ruled that out as part of the strategic transport projects review.
“Even the Green Party, which claims to want new railways, failed to support the reopening of that line in the long list of “rail for all” policy commitments that it has made.
“It is no wonder that the south-west continues to have the lowest wages, the lowest level of business-led inclusive jobs growth and the lowest gross value added figure in Scotland.”
