MSP hails UK Government funding for A75

MORE than £3 million in funding for feasibility studies to progress long-awaited bypasses for Crocketford and Springholm on the A75 has been welcomed by a South Scotland politician. Scottish Labour MSP Colin Smyth described the move by the UK Government as a “positive and long-overdue step” for communities that have faced years of neglect from both the previous UK Conservative Government and the SNP-led Scottish Government. Following last Friday's announcement, Mr Smyth said: “This is a really positive announcement from the UK Government – stepping in to fund the feasibility studies for the long-promised bypasses at Crocketford and Springholm, which neither the Tories nor the SNP lifted a finger to deliver. “The previous UK Conservative Government talked endlessly about investing in the A75 but never delivered a single penny. Our Tory MPs should apologise for that failure. It’s taken a Labour Chancellor to unlock this funding and do more in a few months than the Conservatives managed in 14 years. “For residents in Springholm and Crocketford, this is particularly welcome. They’ve spent years putting up with 40-tonne lorries thundering through their villages day and night. After so many broken promises, this gives them a glimmer of hope – but they’ll only believe it when they see the diggers on the ground.” Mr Smyth renewed his call for the Scottish Government to match that ambition by committing real investment in both the A75 and the A77 – key trunk roads which remain a devolved responsibility. He added: “The A75, like the A77, is more than just a local road. It’s a strategic freight route linking Northern Ireland with the rest of the UK – carrying over 400,000 freight vehicles every year. But both roads are outdated, congested, and unsafe. On average, someone is injured on either the A75 or A77 every three days. “The environmental cost is also huge – HGVs using these single carriageways emit up to two tonnes more CO2 every day compared to travelling on a modern dual carriageway. “Ferry companies have already invested hundreds of millions of pounds in new ships and port infrastructure at Cairnryan. Now we’re seeing the UK Government stepping in with funding to progress long-delayed improvements. “The Scottish Government must now step up, commit the investment in projects promised in their own Strategic Transport Projects Review published three years ago, and finally deliver the improvements people in the south west of Scotland have been waiting for. “Upgrading the A75 should be a national priority – the people of the south west have been left behind for too long.”