PLANS to dual the A75 were again brought up in the Scottish Parliament this week.
The Public Petitions Committee met on Wednesday to discuss proposals to upgrade the road almost two years after it was last considered by them.
The petition was first lodged in July 2016 by the Dual the A75 group, who argued the Gretna to Stranraer trunk road is “no longer fit for purpose” as part of the E18 Euroroute.
It has since been backed Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, alongside a coalition of road hauliers and ferry operators.
Mr Carson said at Wednesday’s meeting he was disappointed to not have received a response to the petition from the First Minster “despite repeated letters.”
He added: “I’d also like to comment how disappointing the contribution is from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, who highlights the investment in the road which really amounts to investment just to maintain and keep the roads in a condition they should be.”
Committee members previously carried out a fact-finding mission to determine the status of the road and concluded that the route has “worsened significantly” amid fears it could lead to a potential loss at the Cairnryan ferry port.
The MSP also remarked that the “only positive” recent development in plans to improve the route has been the change of the road’s operating company to Amey, which he said has led to a “rapid and welcome improvement to the maintenance of the verges and the vegetation around these routes.”
He continued: “This route is undoubtedly becoming more important and the petition does have the support of the major transport haulier associations and the ferry companies. So I would ask the committee to consider writing again to the First Minster to get the information that was requested way back in Nov 2019.”
