Chamberlain sets out plans to get Scotland building again

Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader Wendy Chamberlain has today used a visit to the Scottish Deer Centre to set out her party’s plans for getting spades in the ground and getting Scotland building again.

The party’s manifesto sets out key building projects which will improve core connections, boost the Scottish economy and improve local health services.

• Projects which the party says it will prioritise include:
• Getting on with the long-overdue dualling of the A9 and making junctions safer.
• Setting a timetable for the dualling of the A96 within the first 100 days of the new Parliament.
• Delivering a programme for significant improvements to roads including the A83 and Rest and Be Thankful, A82 and A75 to make them fit-for-purpose.
• Replacing the Edinburgh Eye Pavilion and the Belford Hospital, after Scottish Liberal Democrats restarted both projects through the 2025/26 Scottish Budget.
• Committing to replacing the Gilbert Bain Hospital in Shetland.
• Commencing a rolling programme of ferry building to ensure that Scotland’s islands will no longer face a repeat of the SNP ferry fiasco.

These projects sit alongside commitments to return housebuilding to a level that will get an average of 25,000 homes built each year, supporting 87,000 high quality jobs and measures to reforming planning, making it less arduous and delivering badly-needed infrastructure and economic growth with more planning officers and investment in digital tools that help speed up decision-making.

Ms Chamberlain said:

“I want to get Scotland building again. Our economy is being help back by crumbling infrastructure and a lack of vision, while medical staff complain about NHS buildings which are not fit for purpose.

“We are the nation that built engineering masterworks like the Forth Rail Bridge, the Glenfinnan viaduct and the Union Canal but under the nationalists a project like dualling the A9 can take decades.

“The Scottish Liberal Democrat manifesto sets out a vision for how we will improve core connections, driving progress on major projects such as dualling the A9 and tunnels for Shetland.

“By setting out plans to fix Scotland’s crumbling infrastructure, Scottish Liberal Democrats are demonstrating our commitment to getting Scotland moving again.

“Not only will these projects boost regional development and rejuvenate our economy but they will ensure that people can get swift, local access to healthcare when they need it.

“At this election, you have two votes. In many constituencies we are on the verge of winning against the SNP but in areas like Fife and Perthshire and across the country, every vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats on the second peach regional ballot will deliver a Liberal Democrat local champion and change with fairness at its heart.

“We need to get Scotland building again. And with the Scottish Liberal Democrats, you can vote for it.”