Committee
Public Petitions Committee 24 March 2021
24 Mar 2021 · S5 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
Continued Petitions
A77 (Upgrade) (PE1657)
I thank Finlay Carson for that summary and I am glad that John Scott is going to speak later. I concur with what Finlay Carson has said. We should keep the petition live and include it in our legacy paper for our successor committee. I suggest that we seek an update from the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity on the strategic transport projects review 2. I am loth to let the petition go. I have had similar experiences with the A83—the Rest and Be Thankful—on which I have been campaigning. I thank the campaign team and the petitioners for lodging the petitions with the Parliament. I know that they have been going on for a long time, but it is an important issue, particularly as the UK Government is currently reviewing the case for upgrading the A75 between Gretna and Stranraer and the A77 as part of the strategic review. If the UK Government makes progress on a connection to Northern Ireland by tunnel or bridge, it is important that we monitor the issue and keep pressure on the Scottish Government, as well as pushing the UK Government along. I recommend that we continue the petitions.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Lab
The next continued petitions are PE1610, on upgrading the A75, by Matt Halliday, and PE1657, on upgrading the A77, by Donald McHarrie on behalf of the A77 Ac...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
I first want to thank you, convener, for the way in which you have convened the committee over the years and for making it a friendly and welcoming forum for...
The Convener
Lab
Thank you for those comments and for your kind words, Finlay.
Maurice Corry
Con
I thank Finlay Carson for that summary and I am glad that John Scott is going to speak later. I concur with what Finlay Carson has said. We should keep the p...
David Torrance
SNP
I do not have anything to add to that, because my colleagues have covered it all. We will just have to wait and see what the strategic transport projects rev...
Tom Mason
Con
I agree with Finlay Carson and other members. We are short of the information that we asked for and we should not close the petitions until we get that infor...
Gail Ross
SNP
I do not have much to add, and I bow to the knowledge of the local members. I wish that there was an unlimited pot of money that we could use to upgrade all ...
The Convener
Lab
John Scott, do you want to say anything?
John Scott
Con
Yes, please, convener, and thank you for letting me speak. I pay tribute to Finlay Carson and Brian Whittle for the work that they have done on the issue. T...
The Convener
Lab
Thank you. I think that the committee agrees that we want to continue our consideration of the petitions. People will always make an argument for an individu...