A rural council has called on the Scottish Government to maintain investment in improving the nation's trunk roads under its National Transport Strategy (NTS).
With the draft NTS currently out for consultation until 23 October, controversy has recently arisen over suggestions that Transport Scotland might scale back major roadbuilding schemes in favour of sustainable transport options and higher maintenance spending.
Argyll and Bute Council said it ‘supported the Strategy’s commitment to an inclusive and accessible transport system that results in a fairer and more prosperous Scotland, while calling for guarantees that there is no adverse impact on rural areas’.
In its response to the draft NTS said: ‘It will be essential that there is significant investment by the Scottish Government to address the connectivity and cost disadvantages faced by remote and rural areas.
‘At present lack of investment in key transport infrastructure, poor resilience on strategic transport arteries such as the A83 and disproportionate journey times between key settlements and the Central Belt are constraining opportunities to grow the local economy and contributing to a drift of population from some remote and island communities.’
Transport Scotland is investing to reduce the risk of landslides at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful
The A83 trunk road runs most of the length of a peninsula to the west of the Clyde that makes up a large part of the council area and road journeys to the Central Belt involve travelling a significant distance to the north and therefore the disproportionate journey times described by the council.
Cllr Alastair Redman, policy lead for economic growth, said: ‘Our response to this vitally important consultation process sets out very clearly what we would expect to be included in a National Transport Strategy for all of Scotland.
‘The draft strategy’s priorities are sensible, but we need to be sure that Argyll and Bute’s unique challenges – such as our 23 inhabited islands and mainly rural infrastructure – are considered and that there isn’t a one size fits all approach.’
Traffex Scotland and Bridges Scotland, Scotland’s only dedicated events for the roads and bridges sectors under one roof, take place at the SEC Glasgow on 13 and 14 November.
