Local MSP Brian Whittle has thrown his backing behind a poll by the South West Scotland Transport Alliance which shows 93% of residents across South Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway want to see upgrades to the A77 and A75.
The South West Scotland Transport Alliance (SWSTA) is made up of P&O, Stena Line, and Belfast Harbour authority, together with South Ayrshire Council, and the Ayrshire and Dumfries Chambers of Commerce, who are working together to call for greater investment in transport infrastructure across South West Scotland.
According to the poll, over three quarters of residents believe the upgrades should happen to improve safety, over 60% think the quality of the roads puts off investment in the local economy and around half say it deters tourists and people moving to the area.
Brian Whittle MSP has been campaigning for the A77 and A75 to be upgraded since before his election in 2016 and has worked closely with the ferry companies and other members of the SWSTA during that time. Scottish Conservative Brian has repeatedly challenged the Scottish Government over its failure to live up to previous commitments to dual the A77 and criticised their “abysmally slow” efforts to put forward any concrete proposals to upgrade the route.
While the UK Government has pledged £5m for a feasibility study to upgrade the A75, Brian is urging the Scottish Government to match the funding for a study of the A77 and for both governments to work together for the good of the whole area.
Commenting on the findings of the poll, Brian Whittle MSP said:
“I’ve spent years telling the SNP that if they wanted to know what needed done to the A77, they just needed to ask anyone who’s driven it and this poll proves that once and for all.
The ferry companies know more than most, just how vital the A77 and neighbouring A75 are to Scotland’s economy, but the SNP have refused to take their concerns, and the concerns of people living in the South West, seriously.
After the abysmally slow completion of STPR2, the document that sets out their transport priorities for the next decade, I had hoped we might finally see progress in upgrading these roads, but now the SNP’s coalition with the Scottish Greens gives them the perfect excuse to keep ignoring South and East Ayrshire’s most important route.
Upgrading the A77 and A75 together with investment in extending rail lines, would be transformational for businesses and communities in the area. I hope that the SNP will put the politics aside and work with the UK Government to unlock South West Scotland’s potential, and not leave us behind any longer.”
