Moray MP Douglas Ross has slammed the SNP-Green coalition for spending almost £4 million worth of taxpayers’ money on reviewing plans to dual the A96 in full.
A Freedom of Information Request response to the Scottish Conservatives shows over £3.8 million has been spent on the review, which was ordered after the SNP brought the Greens into government in 2021.
Part of the money has been spent on a climate compatibility test, which formed part of the SNP-Green Bute House agreement, despite the SNP’s previous commitment to dualling the route by 2030.
Douglas says motorists and communities are “sick and tired” of reviews and just want the route fully dualled to “vastly improve” road safety and boost the local economy.
Douglas raised the lack of progress at Scottish Affairs Committee on Monday with Ranald Robertson, director of the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership who said “uncertainty” surrounds the review.
He says that the SNP cannot allow themselves to row back on their commitment to dual the “key route” and put the views of local communities ahead of those in the anti-car and anti-growth Greens.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “It is astonishing that nearly £4 million worth of public money has already been spent on this review which the SNP ordered to keep the anti-car Green party happy and in government with them.
“Ever since the SNP brought the Greens into government in 2021, it is clear that they have been rowing back on their previous commitment to fully dual this key route by 2030.
“Failure to do so would be a devastating blow for communities and businesses across Moray.
"People living and working across the area are sick and tired of these reviews taking place at great cost.
“People in Moray just want the A96 dualled to vastly improve road safety and to boost the local economy.
“The new SNP transport team – Mairi McAllan and Fiona Hyslop – need to guarantee that previous commitments will be met and the views of people in Moray and elsewhere along the A96 will be put ahead of the anti-growth, anti-motorist Greens.”
