NEWS RELEASE

Friday 29th September 2006

A9 dualling campaign: Tories branded "liars and hypocrites"

TRANSform Scotland [1] have today (Friday 29th September) branded the Scottish Tories "liars and hypocrites" for their ‘Dual the A9’ campaign.

Colin Howden, Director of TRANSform Scotland, said:

"The Tories' promotion of more money for road-building demonstrates that their policies on transport are stuck back in the 1980s, when they did so much damage to Scotland's transport system.

"Given the Tories' posturing on climate change in recent weeks, we would have expected them to be calling for upgrades to the Highland mainline railway between Inverness and the Central Belt. Instead we see them campaigning for more road-building.

"Only last Thursday the Tory leader Annabel Goldie led a debate in the Scottish Parliament calling for a "Greener, Fairer Scotland" yet this week they're back to promoting subsidy for private motoring and road haulage. [1, 2]

"It is impossible to reconcile the Tories demands for more road-building with tackling climate change. It's very clear that the Tories are liars and hypocrites when it comes to policies on transport and the environment."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] TRANSform Scotland

TRANSform Scotland is the national sustainable transport campaign, bringing together rail, bus and shipping operators, local authorities, national environment and conservation groups, consultancies and local transport groups - interested in transport, the environment and a sustainable Scotland.

We can be contacted at Lamb's House, Burgess Street, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6RD. Tel 0131 467 7714; fax 0131 554 8656; email <info@transformscotland.org.uk>; web <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk>.

[2] Tory news release 28/09/06: 'Tories launch ‘Dual the A9’ campaign'

See below.

[3] Tory news release 20/09/06: 'Greener, Fairer Scotland can work for us all'

See below.

Spot the difference.

END OF NEWS RELEASE

Scottish Conservative Party Press Office

28th September 2006

Tories launch ‘Dual the A9’ campaign


Scottish Conservatives have stepped up the campaign to dual the A9 in its
entirety between Perth and Inverness with the launch of a new petition and
website.

Murdo Fraser MSP (Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservatives) and Jamie
Johnston, (Scottish Conservative candidate for Inverness East, Nairn and
Lochaber) will be joined by local A9 campaigners to launch the petition and
website. 

The launch will take place at 12:00 noon on Friday 29th September, with the
meeting point at Dunkeld train station car park. The launch will have
banners, as well as ‘Dual the A9’ postcards and car stickers in support of
the campaign.  

Commenting, Murdo said:

“The road users of the A9 understand that the A9 must be upgraded to dual
carriageway status between Perth and Inverness. The Scottish Conservatives
have long sided with the commuters of the A9 and believe that the road must
be upgraded. We have campaigned for the A9 to be dualled since before the
opening of the Scottish Parliament and we are now stepping up the campaign
to see the A9 dualled from Perth to Inverness in its entirety.

“Today we are launching the ‘Dual the A9’ petition to gather public support
and put further pressure on the Scottish Executive to see sense and make the
commitment to dual the A9. The Scottish Executive must show to the people
of Scotland that they are serious about improving the road safety record of
the A9 and commit to upgrading this road.

“The A9 is the priority road for being upgraded in Scotland. It is
Scotland’s deadliest road with the unfortunate statistic of having the
highest death rate of all of Scotland’s roads. These cold facts must be
considered by the Scottish Executive when deciding which roads require
upgrading. It is clear to me that the A9 is the one road that needs urgent
action and upgrading to dual carriageway status between Perth and
Inverness.”

Jamie added:

“I want to see action taken to upgrade the A9 from Inverness to Perth and I
will continue to fight this issue until the road users of the A9 see the
improvements that they deserve.

“We have seen a continual increase on traffic levels on the A9 over the last
10 years. The A9 links Inverness - Europe’s fastest growing city - with
Perth and the Central Belt. As Inverness grows, and its economy and
population grow with it, more traffic is generated. Although the A9 may
have been suitable as a single carriageway route in the past, the road now
requires upgrading to dual carriageway status.

“The latest figures available tell us that the A9 claims 16 lives every year
on average. With growing traffic levels, we can only anticipate that this
level will at least continue if not increase. Nobody would reasonably
expect that dualling the A9 will remove the risk of fatal accidents entirely
but I have no doubt that it would play a major part in making the road
safer. For the sake of 16 lives this year, next year, the year after and
every year after that, I would urge the Executive to take this issue very
seriously.”


The Scottish Conservatives want to see local campaign groups, community
groups, road safety groups and business groups supporting the campaign. Liz
Cameron, Director of Scottish Chamber of Commerce, said:

“Scottish Chambers of Commerce believe that the development of quality
transport links between Scotland’s six cities should be a key goal of
Government in Scotland. For many years, the A9 between Perth and Inverness
has been notoriously inadequate to handle the volume of traffic upon it, and
this is damaging the economic potential of Perthshire and the Highlands.

“We believe that the dualling of the A9 between Perth and Inverness should
be a priority for all of Scotland’s politicians, and businesses will be
looking to see this reflected in all parties’ manifestos next year.”


ENDS

Further information from Jamie Johnston on 07941 320390 or Murdo Fraser MSP
on 07753 570820


Details of launch

Event: Launch of ‘Dual the A9’ petition and website, stepping up the
campaign to dual the A9 in its entirety from Perth to Inverness.

Date: 29 September 2006

Time: 12:00 noon

Meeting point: Dunkeld train station car park

Website: www.DualtheA9.com.

***********************************************

Scottish Conservatives: A Greener, Fairer Scotland

20th September 2006
Greener, Fairer Scotland can work for us all

Tomorrow morning (Thursday 21st September), Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, will lead a debate in the Scottish Parliament on ‘A Greener, Fairer Scotland’. Annabel is expected to say:

“Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today, though it is an issue that can often be seen as being far removed from the voter. If you are on a waiting list for hospital treatment, or intimidated by antisocial behaviour, or worried as to how you will pay your council tax, the problem of global warming doesn’t tend to be an immediate threat. While most of us care about the environment, because of the many other issues in our lives, it isn’t always high on our personal agenda. 

“It is unfortunate that because of this background, global warming is sometimes seen as a middle class issue, an issue for people who can afford to buy more environmentally friendly products which cost more, or aren’t as affected by the day to day issues of health, education, and law and order.

“But global warming affects us all; regardless of wealth, regardless of religion, regardless of education, if we do not address the problem, we will all suffer the consequences. It is therefore important that while we look to address problems in our public services, make our economy more vibrant and provide better opportunities for all, we cannot ignore the impact we are making on the environment.”

ENDS

Further information from Ramsay Jones on 07753 835287 or Iain Gibson on 0131 348 5634 / 07984 494587. E-mail: iain.gibson@scottish.parliament.uk

Notes to Editors