Liberal Democrat MSP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Mike Rumbles has written to the First Minister demanding an apology for the Transport Minister’s callous party point-scoring in the Scottish Parliament today.

In response to questioning from Mr Rumbles about the need for a vital flyover or underpass at Laurencekirk, the Transport Minister disputed accident figures obtained under FOI laws and once again refused to meet local campaigners.

Mr Rumbles has been campaigning for many years now for the permanent upgrade of the junctions around the A90 at Laurencekirk.

In his letter, Mr Rumbles wrote:

“Your Transport Minister, Stewart Stevenson, has consistently refused to meet me and local campaigners to see first hand our concerns about this stretch of road. When I raised this with him in the Scottish Parliament today, I expected some confirmation that a grade separation junction would be included in the Scottish Government’s delayed transport plan.

“But, the Transport Minister instead tried to score petty political points. He claimed that the previous administration had no plans to upgrade the junctions. This is an astonishing claim as civil servants are not permitted to disclose details to an incumbent minister about projects that previous governments had planned to take forward. He then followed this spurious accusation up by disputing the accident figures for this stretch of road. He claims that only two accidents have taken place.

“Figures from Grampian Police, obtained under Freedom of Information laws, show that 36 accidents, which resulted in 21 injuries happened in the last three years. Their accuracy is certain. But, the more pressing point here is that your Transport Minister is callously playing politics with people’s lives.

"I am seeking an apology from you as First Minister to my constituents and the many unfortunate travellers who have been caught in accidents at these lethal junctions. I also think it appropriate that you request your Transport Minister meet me and local campaigners in Laurencekirk, so he can understand the urgency of these safety upgrades."