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21 February 2008

(S3O-2330) Road and Rail Links (Ayrshire)

Road and Rail Links (Ayrshire)

6. Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what importance it places on good road and rail links for the economic regeneration of Ayrshire. (S3O-2330)

The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (Stewart Stevenson): We recognise the important role of effective road and rail links in supporting Ayrshire's economic regeneration. Our current programme includes a range of interventions on Ayrshire's railways and trunk roads to improve journey times, capacity and reliability. We will consider future transport investment requirements through the strategic transport projects review, which will report to ministers in summer.

Irene Oldfather: The minister will recall that in a written answer, he advised me that upgrading of the A737 had basically been kicked into touch. The proposed transshipment container terminal at Hunterston has been dropped and the route development fund, which supported Prestwick airport, will go. What action will the Government take to put connectivity between Ayrshire and the rest of Scotland at the top of the agenda, to allow appropriate economic regeneration?

Stewart Stevenson: The member might need to be reminded of my answer to S3W-8711, which was that the A737 would form part of the strategic transport projects review. I assure her that it will. The review concerns the biggest programme of work that there has been in the life of the Parliament. Like people in other parts of Scotland, the people of Ayrshire are entitled to have their needs considered. Please accept that they shall be.

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): The minister will agree about the pressing need to improve road links between Ayrshire and the M74. Other Ayrshire MSPs share that aspiration, whose realisation Ayrshire residents and the local business community would widely welcome. Will he consider taking steps to upgrade the A70 to trunk road status under section 5(2) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984? Will that be part of the strategic review that he mentioned?

Stewart Stevenson: We have no immediate plans to extend the trunk road network. In the meantime, the A70 is a local road, so the local council can invest in it if it feels that that is appropriate. Of course, we are examining transport corridors and all modes of transport as part of the strategic transport projects review. I am sure that we will find appropriate responses in that.

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): The minister will recall from meeting several organisations in my constituency on 22 August last year that North Ayrshire Council, Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire and others have made it clear that the way to regenerate my constituency, and the most significant investment, would be to construct the Dalry bypass. Will he use his influence to press for the construction of that bypass at the earliest possible date as part of the review?

Stewart Stevenson: The Government's central purpose is to improve Scotland's economy and we recognise that investment in transport infrastructure is a necessary part of that. That is why we are undertaking a wide-ranging review. Ministers will receive the report of the strategic transport projects review this summer. Every part of Scotland is represented in the review's work and I am sure that we will see progress on many projects throughout Scotland.

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