Committee
Public Petitions Committee, 24 Jun 2008
24 Jun 2008 · S3 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
New Petitions
A82 Upgrade (PE1140)
Alasdair Ferguson:
Watch on SPTV
It is a double-edged sword. Because of the width and the nature of the road, we divert vehicles down the A84 through Callander. There is no consistency in the width of the road—it goes from narrow to wide and the verges vary. As a small operation—we are only one haulier on the west coast—we divert lorries through Inveraray for Pan Fish contracts, taking fish and salmon to processing. The economics are such that hundreds of thousands of pounds per annum go into time, wages and fuel. We have to consider our carbon footprint and pressure on emissions, but because the A82 is substandard and not fit for purpose, we have to add on mileage. We are also subject to European Union regulations on drivers' hours, which limit us. From a commercial perspective, the impact could be in the region of £50 per daily trip for a vehicle. If there are 10 trips a day, it is not rocket science to work out that that adds up. The most important point is that, in the economics of the west coast, the cost has to be passed on to our customers.We cannot avoid using certain parts of the A82. Those are narrow, which has a huge impact in relation to safety and damage. With heavy goods vehicles, even minor damage is a real issue. If a mirror is broken, the driver has to park and get people out to fit a new one, for road safety reasons. The biggest issue that we have is at Loch Lomond where, if commercial vehicles meet, they cannot pass and have to reverse. On a daily basis, commercial vehicles have to reverse on a trunk road to avoid each other. One issue with that is when a push bike or a motorcyclist comes in behind a commercial vehicle. The driver checks that it is okay one minute, but by the time that he gets back in his cab to reverse, somebody else could have pulled in behind. Nowadays, with awareness of health and safety, that is a real issue for us and our employees—our drivers.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
Lab
Petition PE1140 is by Alasdair Ferguson on behalf of the A82 Partnership. It calls on the Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to begin phased improvem...
John Hutchison (A82 Partnership):
We represent the west Highlands and Islands with a petition that has achieved record support of more than 8,500 signatures in only four weeks—such is the str...
The Convener:
Lab
Thank you.Two elected members whose parliamentary constituencies are served by the A82 are here. I welcome Jackie Baillie—indeed, perhaps she will want to we...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
I probably should declare an interest, as I live on the A82. I am aware of the accident rate on that road. When I hear a siren going past my house, I think "...
Alasdair Ferguson (A82 Partnership):
I can answer several of those questions. I confirm that several hauliers from the islands use the A82 as their route going south, particularly if they come t...
John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD):
LD
Good morning, folks. Coming down the road this morning, I left the west coast a bit frustrated as I was trying to push on. I wondered what people are complai...
Alasdair Ferguson:
It is a double-edged sword. Because of the width and the nature of the road, we divert vehicles down the A84 through Callander. There is no consistency in th...
John Farquhar Munro:
LD
That is very true. Someone such as yourself has had a lot of experience of the situation on the A82. If the petition is successful and achieves some financia...
Alasdair Ferguson:
The highest priority area is Loch Lomondside between Tarbet and Inveruglas, up to Pulpit Rock.
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
I come from Aberdeen, so you will appreciate that I do not drive on the A82 very often, although when family go skiing at Aonach Mòr, I am always relieved wh...
John Hutchison:
If you are not familiar with the road, you will enjoy the DVD.The route action plan that has been produced identified £90 million of work, and it is a start....
Nanette Milne:
Con
Have you been able to meet the minister to put across your concerns? I know that your campaign has been very active, and I wondered whether that was part of it.
John Hutchison:
That is part of our campaign. We have been trying to meet the minister for a couple of months now. I am pleased to say that I had a call this morning offerin...
The Convener:
Lab
I observe that a petition concentrates the mind. You got a call on the morning of your presentation on your petition. Well done to the minister and his staff...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab):
Lab
Timing is indeed a wonderful thing.I welcome the Public Petitions Committee to Dumbarton and hope that you will all return. I register my strong support for ...
Stewart Maclean (A82 Partnership):
You will note that an 84-page economic report is attached to the petition. I am sure that you have all studied it in great detail, but for those of you who h...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP):
SNP
As the constituency MSP for Lochaber, I congratulate the campaigners on their petition to the Parliament, which I believe has attracted more signatures than ...
John Hutchison:
It is interesting to note that the Scottish Ambulance Service has been an enthusiastic provider of data to us. It generally considers itself to be signed up ...
Alasdair Ferguson:
The note was about the Scottish Ambulance Service. I simply point out that if the road gets blocked for any reason—say, by a serious accident—anywhere betwee...
The Convener:
Lab
I am aware that we have a very full agenda. Your purpose in speaking to the petition is obviously to amplify wider demands for investment, but the committee ...
Jackie Baillie:
Lab
Far be it from me to suggest what committee members should do—I am sure that their comments will supplement what we already have—but, given the evidence that...
Rhoda Grant:
Lab
It is important that we write to the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland in the terms that Jackie Baillie has outlined. However, I wonder whether we s...
The Convener:
Lab
Other than that, not many people, then.
Rhoda Grant:
Lab
There could be a few more.
Nanette Milne:
Con
What about the organisation that maintains the roads in wintertime?
The Convener:
Lab
Okay—TranServ as well. We now have a range of agencies and organisations to contact.From their experience of running the campaign, the petitioners will know ...
Stewart Maclean:
I know that time is of the essence, but please take the opportunity to watch the DVD. It really is worth while—even if only to hear Runrig singing "Loch Lomo...
John Farquhar Munro:
LD
The point has been forcefully made that, even with the capital that has been allocated, things are moving a bit too slowly. In our correspondence with organi...
The Convener:
Lab
To hurry them up, we will threaten them with a full Runrig album. I will say that before Donnie Munro gets a haud o me.I hope that today's meeting has been u...
John Hutchison:
Thank you for hearing us today. We know that you were not obliged to invite us to be present, but we thank you for doing so. Around 8,500 people are watching...