Meeting of the Parliament 09 May 2018
I thank Rachael Hamilton for securing this important debate. It is particularly pertinent to me, because I wrote to the minister a fortnight ago about the issue. I was on the A90, coming back from Forfar one evening in April, and I went through the 3 miles between the A935 and B966 turnoffs—locals will know that section of road as the section of pinkish tarmac that passes Stracathro services. I was absolutely incensed as I slalomed past the large, deep potholes, dodging other motorists who were doing the same thing, and grimacing every time I crunched into one. That day, I was in a 15-year-old sports car that reacts somewhat negatively to dropping into a hole at 70mph. I have also frequently ridden that road on a motorbike, and I can say that hitting one of those holes on two wheels or executing a last-minute swerve to avoid one could easily end in tragedy.
I immediately composed a letter to the minister, asking for urgent action. The Courier picked up on the matter and reported a study showing that, last year, around 22 per cent of A roads in Angus were categorised as red or amber. That figure was up from 17 per cent when the SNP took over. It also reported that, in Perth and Kinross, 40 per cent—that is nearly half—of A roads were categorised as red or amber, which is up from 36 per cent when the SNP took over. Kate Forbes may wish to note that that statistic has improved since a Conservative council took over and made tackling potholes a priority. I am sure that the councillors will be pleased to help her.
That is 324km of road in need of repair in The Courier country. It is more than a cosmetic issue; it is an economic issue as well as a public safety one. It is not straightforward to get to Brechin and Forfar from Aberdeen by public transport, and many people who do not need to make the journey could be put off by the risks of driving, which is not good for the local economy.
There are also public health risks. The minister will be well aware of “Potzilla”, which opened up in March on the A90 outside Laurencekirk. More a sinkhole than a pothole, it put an estimated 21 cars on the verge in one evening alone with burst tyres and buckled alloys. That was financially crippling, but just imagine if one of those vehicles had been a motorbike. What will really have riled motorists on the A90 is that, when The Courier asked for comment, a Scottish Government spokesman said:
“The budget for maintenance... has increased and a recent Audit Scotland report found 87% of roads are acceptable. The recent severe weather caused more damage ... our trunk road operating companies make carriageway defects safe”,
etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. That does not say anything about the A90 or acknowledge that there was a particular issue, and it does not say anything about when—indeed, whether—that moonscape will be repaired.
I have a good deal of time for Mr Yousaf, both as an individual and as a minister. I believe that he appreciates an opportunity to tell it straight. Therefore, I am not convinced that that generalised metaphorical pat on the head for the people of the north-east was given in his words. I am sure that he would not have wanted to disappoint the people of the north-east with that apparent lack of urgency or focus on the actual problem, so I am very pleased to have this opportunity—afforded by Rachael Hamilton—to ask the minister, in closing, to address that specific point. I ask him to give a cast-iron reassurance, on the record, to people in the north-east that the A90, especially that particular 3-mile stretch, will be sorted once and for all and to give a timescale for that. I am sure that he will do that today for the people of the north-east, because I know they will be watching with great interest.
The state of the A90 is hugely concerning. It is damaging to the local economy and to the vehicles that use it, and I pray that no damage to health or safety will arise from it. Although it may not yet be time for heads to roll over the A90, it is time that it got fixed so that our cars and motorbikes can.
17:37