Hansard

The next petition, PE1967, is on protecting Loch Lomond’s Atlantic oak wood shoreline by implementing the high road option for the A82 upgrade between Tarbet and Inverarnan. A theme is developing here. The petition, which was lodged by John Urquhart on behalf of Helensburgh and District Access Trust and the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, calls on the Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to reconsider the process for selecting the preferred option for the planned upgrade of the A82 between Tarbet and Inverarnan, and to replace the design manual for roads and bridges-based assessment with the more comprehensive Scottish transport appraisal guidance. Jackie Baillie has remained with us in order to contribute to our deliberations on the petition again. We previously considered the petition on 21 December 2022, when we agreed to write to Transport Scotland, Argyll and Bute Council, the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority and the Lochaber Chamber of Commerce. Since then, we have received responses from the national park authority, Transport Scotland and the council, which are included in the papers that are before us. The response from the national park authority notes its concerns about the road design, with the caveat that a formal view will be provided once Transport Scotland finalises the proposal. It also highlights that, without further consideration of the details, it is not clear that the high road route would provide a more environmentally favourable option. Transport Scotland has provided a lengthy and quite technical submission, which details its assessment process and the community engagement that has taken place on the A82 scheme to date. In particular, I draw members’ attention to comments on an Audit Scotland investigation into concerns relating to the application of the Scottish transport appraisal guidance. We have also received a late submission from the petitioner, which was circulated to members. It outlines their response to the submissions that we have received. Before I ask committee members for their thoughts on how we should proceed, I invite Jackie Baillie to contribute to our deliberations.