Latest news with #A9
Scotsman
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Fergus Ewing could be celebrated as the man who gave devolution a long overdue kick up the A9
Fergus Ewing, pictured in the Scottish Parliament | PA Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Fergus Ewing's intimation that he will stand as an independent in next year's Holyrood elections is a political milestone but not a surprise. His alienation from the party with which his family name is synonymous has long been apparent. Equally, his personal status among the good burghers of Inverness and Nairn is beyond doubt. He says the tipping point was a visit to Morrison's when it took two hours to navigate the aisles due to good wishes from electors; an accolade to which few MSPs could aspire. He will be hard to beat. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The influence of his arguments should extend far beyond Inverness and Nairn since the matters which have separated Fergus Ewing from the SNP have resonance in every corner of Scotland. Basically, there is a desperate need for change if devolution is ever going to deliver its potential. In SNP terms, Fergus's offence was to be right about everything he stepped out of line on – coalition with the Greens; future of the North Sea; Deposit Return Scheme; Highly Protected Marine Areas, the Gender Reform imbroglio and so on. It is from these stances, rather than the constitution, that he has won respect. Incidentally, Fergus usefully reminded us yesterday that the Bute House Agreement with the Greens was 'negotiated by the current First Minister' who cannot now run far enough from its outcomes. That's what passes for 'steadying the ship' without a word of apology to Scotland for a vastly expensive and socially divisive waste of time. Such arrogance! The greatest of Fergus's local causes has been the flagrant breach of manifesto pledges to upgrade the A9 and A96. These are examples of the SNP being hoist on a petard which served them well for so long – making grand promises without meeting them, then relying on short memories. In 2007, the SNP squeaked into government with an unambiguous commitment to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2025, the year of grace in which we now live. In his previously marginal seat, Fergus romped home. The A9 pledge was highly influential in the Highlands and therefore in determining the overall outcome. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Once made, it had outlived its usefulness. To cut a very long story short, they now admit to being a decade away from the declared objective and probably a lot longer. Fergus last week accused his erstwhile colleagues of again rejecting expert advice by adopting a procurement strategy that makes 2085 a better bet! Some politicians become apologists for such cynicism. Once out of office, Fergus chose not to and his constituents appreciate that, across political divides. If the SNP had listened to him as an elder statesman with an old-fashioned loyalty to the people he represents, they would not now find themselves in this mess. Liking and respecting does not necessarily mean voting for him, of course. As I'm sure he would expect if I lived in Inverness and Nairn, I would vote Labour as usual since the only way of getting rid of the government which he dissects so effectively is to replace them with someone else. But the 'someone else' should also heed the arguments Fergus makes. 'Over time', he says, 'I have seen the Scottish Parliament at its best and its worst. I fear in recent years it has been at its worst. I believe the SNP has lost its way and that devolution itself is letting Scotland's people down. It doesn't need to be this way'. Holyrood, he says, 'is more fractious and tribal than ever before'. First Minister's Questions is 'a pointless slanging match' which participants regard 'as the highlight of their working week'. The Scottish Parliament 'came of age some years ago - surely now it's time for it to grow up; to act with maturity. Instead, there is the same lack of delivery, the same blame game of 'it wisnae me' and the same lack of humility'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Beyond the specific policy issues with which Fergus Ewing has been identified, this brutal - and patently accurate - critique should be even more damaging to the reputation of Holyrood's current masters who have had 18 years to reduce it to this. Fergus argues for the main parties to work together and 'replace brittle bickering with reasoned debate and the cross party co-designing of, for example, reform of public services and maximising economic growth'. He then recommends 'a grand coalition' to head off the threat from 'fringe parties'. That might be stretching it but the basic point is right. If you take the constitution out the mix, there are no great ideological chasms at Holyrood, however much they are contrived. The failings are overwhelmingly of leadership, competence and vision, the essential foundations of good and productive government, which is really what Scotland wants. Those who aspire to replacing Mr Swinney and his dismal band should rise to that challenge. They need to offer something better, not only in policies but also the whole approach to making devolution work for the people. Willingness to co- operate across party lines, and crucially, to work with the UK government rather than against it should certainly be parts of that approach. I would also put the return of powers to local levels and a purge of the quango statelet as high priorities. Who would disagree? And revising Holyrood's own stultifying procedures is long overdue. The list of options for 'a new approach' are plentiful and should be brought together as a reforming agenda.
Telegraph
08-07-2025
- Automotive
- Telegraph
SNP accused of ‘betrayal' over Scotland's most dangerous road
The SNP Government is facing fresh criticism over its failure to upgrade Scotland's most dangerous road, where more than 300 crashes have occurred in four years. Since 2021, 28 people have been killed on the A9 between Perth and Inverness, with hundreds more injured. The 88-mile trunk road was supposed to have been dualled by this year, following a pledge by the SNP government in 2011. In 2023, the completion date was pushed back to 2035 after ministers admitted the target was unachievable. The Scottish Conservatives, which obtained the latest accident data, accused the SNP of a 'shameful betrayal' of those who rely on the A9, including First Minister John Swinney's constituents. Fergus Ewing, the veteran MSP and former SNP rural affairs minister, who last month announced that he will stand as an independent in next year's Scottish Parliament elections, said his former party's failure to deliver on its pledge was 'the SNP's shame'. He added: 'Never have promises been so clearly broken, and the lack of any sense of contrition or humility from the SNP leaders is in itself surely reprehensible.' Figures released under a Freedom of Information request show that 2022-23 was the worst year for fatalities, with 13 people killed on the 88-mile stretch of the A9. Between 2021 and 2025, there were 321 collisions that resulted in 134 serious, and 159 minor, injuries. The Perth to Inverness stretch of the A9 switches between dual and single lanes, which is believed to heighten the risk of accidents. In addition, there is no central barrier to separate traffic and prevent head-on collisions. 'These shocking figures reveal the appalling casualty toll on the A9,' said Sue Webber, the Conservative shadow transport secretary. 'Every day that goes by without this vital road being dualled is putting more lives at risk. Enough is enough. Dualling this road is a matter of life and death.' Mr Ewing, who has been increasingly at odds with the SNP over its slow progress in dualling the A9 and A96 roads, pointed to evidence from the Road Safety Foundation showing that the risk of being in a road accident is three times greater on single carriageways such as the A9 compared with dual carriageways, and ten times greater than on motorways. Addressing the latest accident data, he added: 'Every single one of these accidents involves a family, and those where deaths have been caused will be devastated. 'The dualling of the A9, promised by this year, won't happen by 2035 in my view, and at the heart of my campaign in Inverness and Nairn will be that the next government must complete the dualling. It is my unfinished business. It's the SNP's shame.' Last year, Nicola Sturgeon, the former SNP first minister, apologised that her party's pledge to dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness could not be met. She told a Holyrood inquiry that the £3 billion project had faced significant challenges beyond their control, including from Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. However, opposition politicians have suggested measures to speed up progress. The Scottish Tories have proposed an emergency law that would utilise private companies and expedite environmental impact assessments to fast-track the dualling of the A9 by the end of the next parliament. Cost pressures and austerity In 2011, the SNP government also promised to upgrade the A96 between Aberdeen and Inverness by the end of this decade but abandoned the pledge last year. Fiona Hyslop, the SNP Transport Secretary, blamed cost pressures and austerity, and admitted that the 'original anticipated timeline of 2030' would not be met. She also unveiled an official review that cast major doubt on whether the project will ever be carried out, after it concluded that dualling was not the best option. Transport Scotland said 50 per cent of the A9 will be dualled by 2030 and completed by 2035. The body added that it is 'actively considering' fast-track work, including opportunities for undertaking 'advance works' ahead of main construction contracts. A spokesperson said: 'Our sympathies are with the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones and those who have been injured on Scotland's roads. One death is one too many, which is why we have increased our road safety budget to a record £48 million to address road casualties across the road network.' 'We have prioritised funding for A9 Dualling within our annual budgets and we are also actively considering whether there is any way that we can fast-track work, including opportunities for undertaking 'advance works' ahead of main construction contracts. 'In the meantime, additional investment has supported junction improvements, improved markings and targeted road safety campaigns to improve A9 safety. Private companies are already being used and advance works including Environmental Assessments for the route have already been made.'
France 24
08-07-2025
- Climate
- France 24
Forest fire blazes in southern France
The fire, the latest of several in the area in recent days, started on the property of a winery south of the city of Narbonne on Monday afternoon, then spread rapidly due to wind and parched vegetation after a heatwave. More than 1,000 firefighters battled the flames overnight, but by the morning the inferno had partially damaged 2,000 hectares (4,900 acres) of land and was still going strong, local authorities said. Local official Christian Pouget said six homes had been partially affected. "The fire has still not been brought under control," he said. In the village of Prat-de-Cest on Tuesday morning, trees were blackened or still on fire. As she watched fire trucks drive to and fro, retiree Martine Bou, who did not give her age, recounted fleeing her home with her cats, tortoises and dog on Monday afternoon before returning. But her husband Frederic stayed all night to hose down the great pines on the other side of the road so the fire would not engulf their home. "I've never seen anything like it. I have never lived next to such an enormous fire," he told AFP, reporting flames dozens of metres (more than a hundred feet) high. French weather service Meteo France said the risk of fires remained high on Tuesday. Authorities closed the A9 autoroute to Spain, but on Tuesday morning they said they were progressively reopening the route to traffic. Meteo France said this weekend that a punishing heatwave that began on June 19 had officially ended on Friday, lasting in all 16 days -- the same length as the country's deadly 2003 heatwave. That same day, however, the first major fires of the season broke out in the south. © 2025 AFP
BBC News
08-07-2025
- BBC News
Number of people cycling between Carrbridge and Aviemore up 53%
The number of people using bikes for everyday journeys in parts of the Highlands is on the rise, according to new data. Journeys by bike on the B9152 road between Aviemore and Carrbridge are up 53% for the first three months of this year compared to the same period in north, almost 2,000 people were recorded passing a monitor by the A9 at North Kessock. Peaks have been identified around morning and evening commuting times, suggesting more people are biking to work. The figures have been gathered as part of national cycle counter data, utilising more than 800 automatic cycle counters at 34 locations across Scotland. Sally Devlin, from Aviemore, said: "I no longer drive to work. "Even though it's just a five-minute cycle you feel so much better for getting outside."Across Scotland, a 30% increase was experienced in the number of cycle journeys over winter. Nick Montgomery of Cycling Scotland, said: "What we see from the data is that where local authorities are investing in protected cycle lanes and improved networks of cycling routes, there are big increases in people travelling by bike. "Future improvements would support even more people to benefit from cycling as a healthy, affordable, and environmentally friendly way of getting around."A 5.5 mile (9km) off-road route for walking, wheeling and cycling is planned between Aviemore and Carrbridge, which will be built during A9 dualling works.
Scotsman
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
How transport will boost Scotland's GDP - and is changing under a SNP Government
Since becoming Cabinet Secretary for Transport, seeing first hand the impact transport has on the people of Scotland has been revelatory. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... I am delighted to welcome the publication of the Value of Transport report, a detailed report that highlights the impact transport has on the health, wellbeing and livelihoods of the nation. Sometimes without realising, modern life is underpinned by transport. Going to work, getting to school, accessing public services, buying goods and services in person and online - every aspect of peoples lives depends on the ability as a nation to move people, goods and services around Scotland and beyond. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One of the first events I attended as Cabinet Secretary was the opening of the Levenmouth rail line and I was fascinated to hear about the ways in which that particular project was shaped by the people of the area in a way that met their needs across bus and active travel as well as rail. Riders cross he Queensferry Crossing across the Firth of Forth during the men's Elite Road Race at the Cycling World Championships in Edinburgh in 2023. Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images Scotland has seen a number of achievements and successes relating to transport in recent years, including the Queensferry Crossing, the new Aberdeen Bypass, and on a smaller scale, the introduction of Low Emission Zones in Scotland's four largest cities; free inter-island ferry travel for young people; meeting all milestones set out in the delivery plan to dual the A9 since the plan was published in December 2023 and the continued success of young people using their free bus travel entitlement as having recently celebrated the 200 million journey milestone. These are just a few examples of the integral role transport plays in Scotland's economy and as a key contributor to growth. Everybody uses some form of transport in all of our economic activity, be it the train so I can attend Parliament in Edinburgh; the bus from the suburbs of Aberdeen to the centre for work or a bicycle to make food deliveries. But it is so much more than that. Scotland's roads, rails and ferries allow us all to do the important things that go beyond earning a living – to visit new places, interact with new people and to visit family and friends. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At the same time as producing these social and economic benefits, transport presents both challenges and opportunities for the journey all of us must make towards tackling the climate emergency. Scotland is world leading in its ambitions, its geography and natural resources are a huge competitive advantage. Canals and railways enabled a shift away from an agricultural society to an industrial society during the 18th century and first industrial revolution. In the 21st century, transport will once again be vital to enabling and developing the next shift. Through on and offshore wind infrastructure, the development of new sources of renewables and through the continued development of technology that will help ensure a fair and just transition. Whilst these opportunities are important for the future, I remain firmly focused on the present and this new report sets out in some detail, the value that transport has in real terms. It shows that the sector supports over 150,000 full time equivalent jobs, and almost £10 billion Gross Value Added (GVA). This represents between 6-7% of the total workforce and Scottish GVA. However, the impact of the transport sector is much more central to the economy and to people's lives than this indicates. This report demonstrates how transport can help support businesses, imports and exports, and how transport investments can increase productivity. It also shows how transport policy can be used to address inequalities. For example, the paper highlights a clear gap in access to cars between those in and out of work, as well as the challenges faced by those in Scotland's island communities. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Transport, including aviation and shipping, accounts for about a third of total Scottish emissions. It is the largest emitting sector for nine consecutive years. While the cost of decarbonisation is large, it also presents significant economic opportunities – such as battery and vehicle manufacturing as well as unlocking efficiencies within other industries. People may ask 'why does transport matter?'. Transport is not an invisible commodity, transport is truly transformative – individually and collectively – touching on the everyday lives of the people of Scotland; people of all ages and at all times in a way that is arguably more visible than many other areas of government policy. That not only underlines its importance but also highlights the tremendous opportunities ahead. Transport is the beating heart of society and Scotland's economy. It gets people from A to B. It delivers goods to market and to consumers. Keeps people safe. Drives the economy. It underpins the social contract of modern Scotland – free bus passes, heavily subsidised rail travel, a crucial part of tourism, Scotland's biggest employer. If people walk, wheel or cycle or use public transport they play a part in tackling the climate emergency and in turn, can save the NHS millions of pounds too. More change is coming. Climate change. Political change. Global uncertainties. The public mood is changing too. As individuals we can only focus on what we can control ourselves and be aware and responsive. This government's work is not done – there is so much more to do. Transforming the transport system is not without its challenges, but it is something to be proud to look back on and say as a nation, we played our part. For the first time, the Scottish Government is investing over £4 billion in 2025-26 to support the transport network. What does that actually mean? It means keeping families, friends and communities connected – moving goods and services around Scotland and beyond and ensure people can access public services. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Transport alone, as a driver of growth, can increase the nation's Gross Domestic Product. Transport is also crucial for our trade and competitiveness, within Scotland, across the UK and internationally. Improving gateways, such as airports, ports and major transport hubs, to grow existing markets and explore new opportunities. Of course, there cannot be one solution which suits all of Scotland – but by incentivising and encouraging a shift towards sustainable travel and affordable, available and accessible public transport options. Scotland faces unique challenges compared to many other comparable countries. Scottish Government research has identified transport as the most fundamental difference between islanders' and mainland household budgets and the reliance on and resilience of ferry services is a particularly Scottish issue.
