Scottish Government Faces Criticism Over A9 Dualling Delays

Scottish Government officials are under fire for delays in the dualling of the A9 road, with concerns raised by local politicians about the repeated failure to deliver on promises regarding the project. Independent Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Inverness and Nairn, Fergus Ewing, expressed frustration at the government’s handling of the A9, noting that previous commitments have not materialized as expected.

The A9 project has faced significant setbacks over the years, largely attributed to funding challenges. The Scottish Government had previously indicated plans to finance the dualling through private capital, a strategy that has proven time-consuming and impractical. Ewing highlighted that this approach was abandoned in the past due to its high costs, yet the government has returned to the same model for funding. He criticized the government’s reliance on external financial sources, stating, “Years wasted and hopes raised and dashed.”

Ewing pointed out that the Scottish Government had previously blamed multiple factors for delays, including the impacts of Covid-19, Brexit, and even the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. He stated that the current administration has now admitted that private funding is not a viable option for the A9 dualling, a project that has occupied much of the Parliament’s time from 2021 to 2026.

In a recent update, the Scottish Government announced that an overall capital spend will be disclosed in January, followed by a Ministerial Statement regarding the A9. Ewing noted the pattern of announcing good news just before elections, pointing to a similar announcement for the Tomatin-Moy section of the A9 made at the end of the last parliamentary session. He stated, “It seems that good news is announced just before elections. Funny that!”

Despite the delays, there is a substantial budget available for infrastructure projects, with the Scottish Government’s capital budget projected at £6014 million for the fiscal year 2024-25. Ewing emphasized that the funds required for the A9 dualling and other projects, such as the A96, are readily available. He challenged the government, stating, “The question is, are the Scottish Government prepared to spend it in the Highlands?”

Local residents and stakeholders are eager for clarity on the A9 project, which is not expected to be completed until 2035. Nevertheless, Ewing suggested that it could be finished sooner if funding is allocated appropriately from the available budget.

In a separate issue, Ewing also addressed the case of Sandy Peggie, a nurse who faced significant challenges after raising concerns about workplace policies regarding changing rooms. The Fife Health Board reportedly incurred nearly £500,000 in legal costs related to the case, which has raised questions about oversight and accountability within public health organizations.

Ewing called for the Scottish Government to take responsibility for the actions of quangos like the Fife Health Board, stating they have the legal authority to intervene. He questioned whether the government will act decisively should Peggie win her case, urging the First Minister to apologize and ensure such incidents do not occur again.

The developments regarding the A9 project and the Peggie case illustrate ongoing tensions between local needs and government action in Scotland, highlighting the challenges of effective governance and accountability in public infrastructure and health services.