Cromarty, Skye, Lochaber & Badenoch Lib Dem candidate Alan MacRae has reacted with disappointment to the omission of the A82 from the SNP’s manifesto, published today.

The document lists a series of motorway and trunk road priorities, but the A82 is not among them.

The Scottish Lib Dem manifesto – published last week – committed to making delivery of the A82 Route Action Plan, published by Tavish Scott in 2006, a national priority in the coming five year parliament.

Commenting, Mr MacRae said:

“While in opposition, the SNP said the A82 was a ‘national disgrace’. But in the past four years they have done nothing to make it better – for safety or for the economy of the West Highlands. Instead, they have presided over delays to the planned improvements that they inherited at Pulpit Rock and Crianlarich.

“It’s clear in their manifesto that the SNP’s priorities lie far from the Highlands in the motorways of Central Scotland. Vague references to the A9 and the A96 are reheated from four years ago, but the A82 is entirely absent.

“We are always hearing from the SNP that they can’t invest in Highland transport because of the £1.6billion cost of a second Forth Road Bridge. Now they claim to have £250million to spare from that project, but it turns out their true priority isn’t Highland road and rail links at all.”

Ross, Skye & Lochaber MP Charles Kennedy added:

“The A82 is the vital road artery connecting the West Highlands & Islands with the Central Belt. Its importance is only greater because of the limited rail and air links serving our communities.

“The Highlands need a voice in the new Scottish Parliament who will speak up clearly for the A82. In the last Parliament we haven’t had that voice – and the result speaks for itself.

“Only Alan MacRae will put the A82 firmly back on the national transport agenda. The SNP stand for a decade of delay. We’ve had already had four years of excuses and no action. We don’t need another five.”

Notes:

* Stewart MacLean of the A82 partnership can be contacted for comment on 07836 608809.

* The SNP manifesto published today lists the following road investment priorities:

o M8 Ballieston to Newhouse, M74 Raith Junction, and M8, M73 and M74 network improvements

o The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and A90 Balmedie

o It also says:

+ “We will continue work to deliver the Forth Replacement Crossing on time and on budget.”

+ “We will continue development of a route strategy and improvements for the A96 and dualling the A9.”

* The Lib Dem manifesto, published last week, includes a commitment to: “Make strategic investments to improve road safety and quality, for example taking forward plans to improve the A82, A83 and A96 roads.”

* Former Lib Dem Transport Minister Tavish Scott published a Route Action Plan for the A82 in 2006 and timetabled initial investments at Pulpit Rock and Crianlarich. Both schemes have suffered delays since 2007 and no further schemes have been planned, funded or timetabled in the last 4 years.