Swinney fails to back A75 campaign

FIRST Minister John Swinney has been blasted for failing to back a campaign designed to bring forward dualling of the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway. It is being led by local MSPs Craig Hoy and Finlay Carson and calls for measures to immediately deliver dualling of key sections and full dualling of the road as soon as possible. Speaking at Holyrood, Mr Hoy, urged Mr Swinney to support them, saying: “Too many people are dying in accidents on the A75. Will the First Minister therefore add his voice of support to the campaign to save lives by expediting the dualling of the A75?” However, the First Minister only replied that the SNP government “has taken a number of measures” to improve road safety on the A75. He added: “There are obviously ongoing discussions in relation to the upgrade of the road and the government will play its full part in all of those discussions.” Mr Hoy said he was “deeply disappointed” at Mr Swinney’s stance.