A replacement road must be agreed, planned, contracted, constructed and opened by May 2026 at the latest.
This is the joint message sent by ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute’s Council Leader, and MSP, to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Islands and Connectivity, Michael Matheson, in response to the publication of an update to the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) earlier this month.
Cllr Robin Currie, Leader of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥, and Michael Russell, the region’s MSP have written to the Cabinet Secretary reiterating the need for key actions to be progressed swiftly:
- Planning, construction and opening of the replacement route within the life of the next parliament and at the very latest before May 2026;
- Continuation (and increase if necessary) the mitigation measures currently underway at the site;
- More frequent meetings of the A83 Taskforce to focus on driving forward delivery of the replacement route.
Mr Russell said:
“The report itself states the case that the A83 is one of only two trunk roads connecting ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute to the central belt, that it is absolutely critical for the movement of goods and people and that it plays a vital part in all aspects of life in ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute, from economy to education and employment opportunities.
“The pace of the action must match the urgency of the situation and that is why we are calling for the new route to be put in place in the life of the next parliament and no later.â€
Cllr Currie added: “Everyone with ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute’s interests at heart is agreed that urgent action is needed to ensure our connections to and from the rest of the country are reliable, sustainable and open for business at all times.
“With this joint approach we are calling for three key actions and clear timescales to be put in place which will address this situation once and for all. As we focus on ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute’s recovery it is absolutely vital to stay connected.â€
ENDS