Meeting of the Parliament 28 November 2024
It is important that we gather the public’s views before making a final decision on the programme so, today, we are launching a 12-week consultation on the outcomes from the review. That will provide people, businesses and organisations with the opportunity to fully consider the findings from the detailed work that Transport Scotland has undertaken and to provide vital feedback on it. As I made clear, the review was a requirement of the Bute house agreement and has been anticipated and expected by MSPs.
The review, which was published today, extends to more than 2,000 pages of reporting and clearly demonstrates the significant work that has been undertaken to inform future investment in a key transport corridor. Importantly, the material that is now available on Transport Scotland’s website clearly sets out the performance of the refined package alongside that of the current plan to fully dual the route. That will enable all interested parties to consider the respective performance of potential improvements to the A96 corridor, including full dualling, compare them and be fully informed of the options, before sharing their views.
I appreciate that there is a huge amount of information for everyone, including elected members, to digest. That is why I will hold a further round-table meeting with interested MSPs during the consultation period to give them the appropriate time to review and fully consider the material, ask questions and give their views.
I also want to update the Parliament on the dualling of the A96 from Inverness to Nairn, including the Nairn bypass, which is separate from the A96 corridor review process, as it has already received ministerial approval. The completion of the statutory process for that A96 dualling scheme earlier this year clears the way for ministers to take forward the final stage of the process to acquire the land that is required to construct the dualling scheme. Transport Scotland is now pressing ahead with the procedural steps to make that happen in the coming months. Work has also commenced to determine the most suitable procurement option for delivering the work on the A96 Inverness to Nairn including Nairn bypass dualling scheme. Thereafter, a timetable for progress can be set, in line with available budgets.
The Government is reiterating its commitment to the people of the north and north-east of Scotland. The Government’s position has not changed. The current favoured position is to fully dual the A96, and we are already starting the dualling process from Inverness to Nairn, including the Nairn bypass. The outcomes from the review that Transport Scotland has undertaken have been published today in draft for public consultation, and no final decision has been made.
Feedback from people and stakeholders will inform the Scottish Government’s final decision on how best to take forward improvements to the A96 while balancing the demands of the challenging economic climate, current policy and the climate emergency. That feedback will assist in planning how improvements along the corridor are prioritised and will inform our timescales for the wider A96, following the major and on-going roads investment and wider investment in the north and north-east of Scotland.