SNP should give new date for dualling A96

Scottish Liberal Democrat lead parliamentary candidate for the North East region Yi Pei Chou-Turvey today (Saturday 11th October) said that the SNP should finally set a deadline for dualling the A96, after years of broken promises and delays.

Her comments come ahead of the SNP’s conference in Aberdeen this weekend.

The A96 is the trunk road that links Aberdeen to Inverness. Last year, the Scottish Government abandoned their commitment, first made in 2011, to make the road a full dual carriageway by 2030.  

The First Minister has said the SNP “remains committed to dualling” the road, but his government have failed to set a new deadline for doing so.

In July alone, there were three deaths on the A96.

Scottish Liberal Democrat North East parliamentary candidate Yi Pei Chou-Turvey said:

“Over a decade ago the SNP promised action on the A96, but endless broken promises are all anyone in the North East has seen.

“The SNP have a toxic relationship with the north of Scotland. How many more lives will be lost before we see action?

“SNP members in the North East will be embarrassed by their party’s record here. It must be hugely frustrating to sit through a conference that rehashes the same old topics and shows radio silence on fixing dangerous roads.

“Every year, roads like the A96 are causing horrific crashes and fatalities. If the SNP were truly serious about delivering for Scotland, they would take the chance of being in Aberdeen to give a new date for dualling the A96.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats have repeatedly called for dangerous trunk roads, including the A96, A9 and A90, to be upgraded a matter of urgency. That’s how we can keep people safe and encourage investment in more remote parts of the country.  

“Next May, everybody in the North East has a chance to get change with fairness at its heart by voting for the Liberal Democrats on the second, peach regional ballot paper. That’s how we can fix our dangerous roads and get Scotland moving again."